She has backed new Government plans that would allow mayors to retain a portion of income tax raised in their areas, giving them more power to invest in local priorities. "Westminster giving more control to the West of England will enable me to invest more in what matters most to us. "Keeping some of the income tax that our communities pay will let us take our future into our own hands." The proposal is part of a broader effort to expand devolution and give regions like the West of England more control over their economic future. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, already holds powers over strategic transport, planning and skills, supported by a £30 million-a-year investment fund for 30 years.