COULD a character like Boris Johnson be good for Gloucestershire’s devolution bid? asks the county's police and crime commissioner Martin Surl.

The commissioner is one of 10 partners to have signed-up to the county’s bid for devolution which if successful would give Gloucestershire greater control of its public services.

It would be the biggest change in how the county is run in more than 40 years and would give the county more say over social care and health spending, local transport networks, business rates, education and infrastructure.

But Mr Surl states that the whole devolution message has not 'caught on' with the public and the debate needs to be broadened to get people interested.

He said whoever takes the matter forward, if the county is successful in its tender, needs to be a strong character.

Speaking at a business networking breakfast hosted by Business West, in Cheltenham, Mr. Surl said: “I fully support the idea of devolution for Gloucestershire but I believe we need to consider who will run the show if we achieve our goal.

“Managing Gloucestershire will be a very big job and I don’t believe it can be done by committee - and I don’t think the Government wants that. From what I hear they want one person who will be accountable, like the mayor is in London.

“In many ways, police and crime commissioners are the template because the Government devolved powers from the old police authorities to one elected figure. Unlike members of parliament and local councillors, I am the only elected representative covering the whole of the county. I am responsible for a workforce of 1800 officers and staff and a budget of £105 million.

“I’m not saying we definitely should have a mayor and I am certainly not touting for the job myself. In fact, if Gloucestershire did have a mayor it would make me redundant because the new post would include the responsibilities of the police and crime commissioner - but I do think we should be asking the question."

The case for devolution for Gloucestershire has been developed by Gloucestershire County Council, the six district councils, GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership, the police and crime commissioner and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

A government representative has been appointed to work with the partners to develop the bid and ministers are expected to give a decision by the end of the year.