Rayner signs off four new devolution deals

Greater Lincolnshire, Hull & East Yorkshire, Devon & Torbay, and Lancashire will receive more power from Westminster in the latest step in the government’s devolution plans. The government has signed off on agreements for regional mayors in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire, and to establish combined county authorities in Devon & Torbay and Lancashire.  The agreements will give local leaders the power to make decisions in areas such as transport, adult education and housing, with the aim of boosting economic growth and opportunity. 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 and will be given responsibility for adult education.  Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner 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.” Labour said it was also minded to progress with the four non-mayoral “level two” single local authority devolution agreements with Cornwall Council, Buckinghamshire Council, Warwickshire County Council, and Surrey County Council, subject to further statutory tests being met. However, the government has said that it will not be proceeding with the mayoral deals with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council agreed with the previous government in December 2022 as it “strongly believes” that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. It said: “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 has also committed to full devolution across the North and said it would prioritise remaining Northern areas in its next wave of deals. Photo by Toby Shepheard/Story Picture Agency/Shutterstock