North Somerset Council could join a devolution bid with four Wessex councils rather than pursue closer ties with the Bristol area.

The council could band together with Somerset Council and those for Dorset, Wiltshire, and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole to seek a devolution deal without a metro mayor, under plans which are still at an informal early stage. The five councils considering the plan were revealed by Dorset Council leader Spencer Flower at a full council meeting in December, but no similar announcement has yet been made in North Somerset.

The news came as a surprise to some in North Somerset, which collaborates in some areas with the neighbouring West of England Combined Authority. Ciarán Cronnelly, a North Somerset councillor and the mayor of Weston-super-Mare, said on X (formerly Twitter) that Mr Flower's announcement was the first he had heard of the plan.

He added: "I wouldn't ever support this. North Somerset's closest economic ties are in and around the WECA area."

But council leader Mike Bell responded: "It is right that [North Somerset Council] considers devolution solutions so we don't end up isolated with no access to powers or resources, caused by the Tories letting us down by not joining WECA. We're exploring all options to benefit our residents but very informal at this stage."

He added: "Just to be clear, all options includes WECA. But we have to play the cards we're dealt. My only goal is to strengthen the services and future prosperity for North Somerset residents."

The areas that now make up North Somerset and the neighbouring local authority of Bath and North East Somerset were removed from Somerset in 1974 to join the new County of Avon, centred around Bristol and also including part of Gloucestershire. Avon was dissolved in 1996, with North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire all becoming independent unitary authorities.

North Somerset is the only one of the four councils which has not since joined WECA, but the council does work with them in some areas such as on the recent Bus Service Improvement Plan.

A non-binding expression of interest in creating the devolution deal could be submitted to the government in February, Mr Flower said when addressing Dorset Council in December.