Four areas will receive more power from Westminster in the latest
step in the government's devolution revolution, which will
deliver real change by boosting economic growth across the
country.
The government has today (19) signed off on agreements for
regional mayors in Greater Lincolnshire and in Hull & East
Yorkshire, and to establish combined county authorities in both
Devon & Torbay and Lancashire.
The agreements signed today will mean local leaders have the
power to make decisions in areas such as transport, adult
education, and housing, boosting economic growth and opportunity,
which are at the heart of the government's agenda.
Mayors will be elected in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull &
East Yorkshire – the last part of Yorkshire to be covered by a
devolution deal – in May 2025 and will have control over
transport, housing, skills, and investment to shape the future of
their area.
For Devon & Torbay and Lancashire, combined county
authorities will be established in early 2025 handed the
responsibility for adult education. Ministers are encouraging
local leaders to deepen these devolution deals and take strides
towards mayoral devolution as a gold standard.
Subject to parliamentary approval and local consent, the
devolution agreements will mean local leaders can make decisions
that benefit their communities and harness the unique
opportunities of their areas.
Devolution is central to the government's mission to economic
growth, but only around half of the people in England currently
benefit from these arrangements. The Deputy Prime Minister wants
every area to have the opportunity to benefit from new
powers.
At the heart of the government's drive to shift powers away from
Westminster is the flagship English Devolution Bill, which will
be introduced to give new powers to mayors and combined
authorities – and roll out Local Growth Plans designed to
maximise opportunities for growth.
Deputy Prime Minister said:
“This is only the first step of our major ambition to drive
forward our devolution revolution, and ensure we empower more
communities and strengthen the existing powers of our brilliant
mayors.”
The government is also minded to progress with the four
non-mayoral ‘Level 2' Single Local Authority devolution
agreements with Cornwall Council, Buckinghamshire Council,
Warwickshire County Council, and Surrey County Council, subject
to further statutory tests being met. These agreements are an
important step for places to see early benefits from devolution
in the short-term. However, in making this downpayment in good
faith, the government is encouraging these areas to continue
working to explore the next steps towards deeper and wider
devolution.
Today's announcement comes after the Deputy Prime Minister's
letter inviting councils to share proposals for new devolution
agreements over sensible geographies. The letter kickstarted the
devolution revolution and the government expects more deals to be
announced in the months to come.
The government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution
are best achieved through the establishment of combined
institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a
unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on
their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove
with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery
of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual
and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local
Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of
both and is not in line with the government's approach to English
devolution.
The government will therefore not proceed with the mayoral deals
with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council agreed
with the previous government in December 2022 and
instead intends to continue discussions over devolution in
Norfolk & Suffolk.
The government will publish further detail on our approach to
devolution in due course.
