Northern devolution complete

The government is on the verge of introducing a new wave of deals that aim to grant greater autonomy and support to communities in the north and beyond, as part of their commitment to achieving full devolution across the country. Currently, four deals are in the pipeline, focusing on the following regions:

– Hull and East Yorkshire

– Greater Lincolnshire

– Lancashire

– Devon and Torbay

The upcoming deals for Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire are set to usher in the election of mayors in May 2025, thereby handing them control over crucial aspects such as transport, housing, skills, and investment.

In contrast, the deals for Devon and Torbay and Lancashire will pave the way for the establishment of combined county authorities at the beginning of 2025, entrusting them with the responsibility for adult education. Although mayoral elections are not part of these deals, local leaders are being actively urged by government ministers to push for deeper devolution and progress towards mayoral arrangements.

While the aforementioned deals are nearing finalization, the government has indicated its intent to proceed with Single Local Authority agreements with councils in Cornwall, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, and Surrey. Despite the need to meet further legal requirements, these agreements play a pivotal role in the government’s vision of enabling communities to experience the immediate benefits of devolution in the near future, while also encouraging them to explore the possibilities of broadening their devolution journey.

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, expressed her views on the matter, stating:

“This is just the beginning of our ambitious plans to propel the devolution revolution forward, empowering more communities and enhancing the powers held by our exceptional mayors.”

Aside from the devolution deals, the government is gearing up to unveil this year’s Investment Zone funding for West Yorkshire and the West Midlands. These funding initiatives, focusing on life sciences and advanced manufacturing respectively, are anticipated to generate top-quality jobs and attract private sector investments, much like the success seen in several combined authorities with existing Investment Zones.

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