[20] The authority promotes the West of England Joint Local Transport Plan, which includes the MetroBus network and the MetroWest rail project.

[34] As of April 2019[update] the authority employed 84, including the staff of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and the 'Invest in Bristol and Bath' team.

The four local authorities’ monitoring officers, who give legal advice, stated the veto could arguably amount to maladministration.

[35] On 15 October 2021, the four council leaders did not attend a WECA meeting with the mayor, which meant over £50 million of spending decisions could not be made.

[36] In November 2021, after taking new legal advice, Norris agreed not to claim veto powers on decisions involving North Somerset.

[37] In September 2024, North Somerset Council submitted an expression of interest in formally joining the West of England Combined Authority.

It criticised WECA leaders for having a "poor state of professional relationships", and found five "significant weaknesses" in value-for-money arrangements.

[47] In 2018, Mayor Tim Bowles voiced hope that North Somerset would join the combined authority, saying: "We work closely on a regular basis with Nigel [Ashton, then leader of the council] and his officers on a number of things.

[13] In October 2020 there were discussions around North Somerset joining the WECA in time for the May 2021 election;[48][49] however Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, voted down this proposal in early 2021.

[50] He rejected it on the basis that there should be a financial offer from the government for the council's inclusion, and stated that he would like to see North Somerset joining in the future.

[53][54] Local transport funding in England faces possible cuts that could disrupt bus and train improvements, prompting regional mayors to advocate for budget protection amid a significant government shortfall.