Deputy Prime Minister today (October 10) chaired
the first-ever Mayoral Council - hosted in the North East - to
discuss how best to shift power away from Westminster and into
communities.
Regional mayors were invited to the roundtable at The Common Room
in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to share their views on the development
of the upcoming English Devolution White Paper. This will
set out the government's plans to widen devolution to more areas
and deepen the powers of existing mayors and their combined
authorities, ensuring they have the tools needed to boost
economic growth.
The Deputy Prime Minister established the Mayoral Council to
strengthen the relationships between central government and the
mayors, ensuring those with skin in the game are involved in
discussions concerning devolution and the White Paper has the
fingerprints of local people on it.
Three days ahead of the International Investment Summit, the
first Mayoral Council meeting will focus on investment and
growth, with plans underway to devolve a range of powers across
areas like planning, skills, transport, and employment support.
This is a key moment to ensure everyone is collectively playing
their part to maximise the opportunity the Summit presents for
the whole of the UK.
Deputy Prime Minister said:
It's been fantastic to kick-off the first Mayoral Council today,
ensuring our mayors have a proper seat at the table as we shape
the future of English devolution.
We want to learn from those who are already seeing the
game-changing benefits of devolution as we work to shift more
power away from Westminster and back into our communities, where
it belongs.
The Council will meet every quarter and will allow for increased
partnership working, helping to further bring regional insight to
national policy, and ensure everyone is aligned with the
government's mission to boost economic growth.
Ministers across government will also be invited to future
sessions to strengthen that relationship between the government
and mayors, who have previously been asked to develop ambitious
long-term Local Growth Plans focused on the key growth priorities
for their region that will support shared national growth and
deliver the national industrial strategy. These plans will be
focused on the biggest opportunities and most challenging
constraints to growth, and the government will work hand-in-hand
with the mayors to take them forward.
The meeting will help to shape the White Paper, which will set
out a presumption in favour of devolution with an enhanced
devolution framework, giving local leaders the tools they need to
deliver for their communities, alongside stronger governance
structures and clearer accountability.
The meeting comes ahead of the Council of the Nations and Regions
in Scotland, which will see the Prime Minister bring together
First Ministers, Northern Ireland's First Minister and deputy
First Minister and regional Mayors from across England, as the UK
Government forges new partnerships, resets relationships and
seizes the opportunity to secure long term investment with the
aim of boosting growth and living standards in every part of the
UK.
