Consultations launch on Devolution Priority Programme

The government has launched consultations in six areas on proposals to establish mayoral combined authorities or mayoral combined county authorities as part of the government’s commitment to widen devolution.

The Devolution Priority Programme was launched at the beginning of the month and will support the selected areas to move towards devolution at pace - becoming mayor-led strategic authorities by May next year if they proceed.

The government is seeking views from local residents, businesses, and public sector bodies.

The areas that have joined the programme include Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.

The consultations will consider questions such as the proposed geographies and how the mayoral combined (county) authorities will operate.

Minister of state for local government and English devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP said: "We are committed to shifting power out of Whitehall and into our regions, ensuring local leaders have the tools they need to tackle local priorities and realise their areas’ potential as part of our Plan for Change.

"Our Devolution Priority Programme will deliver that power at pace and I encourage local residents to be part of our ‘devolution revolution’ by contributing to these consultations."