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Map of the region
The Combined Authority

Who we are

The Combined Authority was set up in 2017 to make decisions and investments that benefit people living and working in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Together, our aim is to deliver economic growth for the region and address some of our challenges, such as productivity and skills, housing and transport.

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Dan Morris, Metro Mayor
Who we are

The Combined Authority is led by Dan Norris, Metro Mayor for the West of England, who was elected in May 2021.

Local Enterprise Partnership event
Who we are

The Combined Authority supports the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which brings the voice of business to our strategic decision-making.

Richard Ennis
Who we are

The Combined Authority is led by Richard Ennis, Interim Chief Executive of the West of England Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership.

Bath by the river
The Combined Authority

Devolution

The Combined Authority was established in early 2017 through our region's devolution deal. This deal transferred significant powers and funding to our region, and has given us the opportunity to be ambitious at a scale not seen before.

View our devolution deal

FAQs

The West of England Combined Authority itself does not have councillors. The West of England Combined Authority Committee is chaired by the Mero Mayor and is made up of the Leaders and Mayor from our constituent councils: Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council. Councillors elected to serve on the Combined Authority’s constituent councils are also appointed to serve on our committees.

We have the following decision taking committees:

The West of England Combined Authority Committee:
The West of England Combined Authority Committee is chaired by the Metro Mayor, and is made up of the Leaders and Mayor from our three constituent councils: Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

The Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) also attends committee meetings in a non-voting capacity. This Committee takes key decisions on matters affecting our region, including funding projects through the regional Investment Fund.

West of England Joint Committee:
The West of England Combined Authority Joint Committee is chaired by the Metro Mayor, and is made up of the Leaders and Mayor from the West of England councils: Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and North Somerset Council. The Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)also attends committee meetings in a non-voting capacity. The Joint Committee takes key decisions on matters affecting the Combined Authority, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council.

Other committees:

The West of England Combined Authority Overview & Scrutiny Committee:
The West of England Combined Authority Overview & Scrutiny Committee is made up of 11 councillors drawn from across our three constituent councils and is chaired currently by Cllr Stephen Clarke (Bristol City Council). Its role is to review and scrutinise the work of the Combined Authority; it can also make reports or recommendations to the decision-taking committees. Three councillors from North Somerset Council are observers at these meetings and able to comment on matters that affect North Somerset.

The West of England Combined Authority Audit Committee:
The Audit Committee comprises 12 members, 11 councillors drawn from across our three constituent councils and one independent member. Its role is to provide independent assurance to the Combined Authority on its governance, internal control and risk management arrangements and to oversee the statutory financial reporting process.