New devolution timetable and spending powers for mayors announced: CCN responds

Today the government has announced a fresh timetable for devolution in England, alongside the ability for mayors to retain a share of income tax.

The government has committed to introducing strategic authorities in all places by the end of 2028, but will not impose mayors. However. officials have said that only areas with mayoral strategic authorities will access the highest level of devolved powers, including the the ability to retain a share of income tax.

Further details will follow in the Autumn. Alongside the Budget, the government will publish a 'fiscal devolution roadmap', which will set out plans for the full set of reforms and a timetable for their implementation.

Below, the County Councils Network responds to today's announcements.

Cllr Sean Matthews, Chair-Elect of the County Councils Network, said:

“Devolution is currently very lopsided in England: whilst all the major cities have agreements and mayors, 22 county and unitary councils, spanning 17m residents, do not have a devolution settlement. The announcement today that all these areas will be supported to create strategic authorities is an important pledge but geographies must be put forward locally, rather than imposed nationally. The County Councils Network (CCN) called on government to agree a devolution settlement with all counties that want one by the end of this Parliament, and we are pleased the government’s timetable set out today fulfils this.

“We cannot have a country of urban ‘haves’ and rural and county ‘have nots’ and so tapping into the economic potential of county areas will be vital to deliver strong growth. Counties are home to 12m jobs and generate almost £100bn in income tax per year – a quarter of the country’s total. That should mean ensuring that substantive powers are accessible to all areas. For our members who have or will pursue a mayoral model, they should receive ‘established’ mayoral status after six months rather than 18 months at present: enabling them to deliver significant growth quicker.

“For the county areas where – as the government recognises – a mayor is unsuitable, this should not be a barrier to access to the highest levels of devolved powers and funding should not be limited to just mayors only. We will engage the government and highlight these concerns. Equally, powers and devolved funding should not be ‘centralised’ upwards to mayors from local authorities, and government will have to set out clear plans on how it intends to make policies fair across England for the areas with less ability to generate economic growth. 

“Overall, the Prime Minister’s announcement today that mayors will be given a share of income tax revenue is a potentially momentous first step in genuinely decentralising powers from Westminster. The CCN’s report on fiscal devolution last year demonstrated how this concept could work and how much revenue could be generated to drive local economic growth. We are encouraged that the government has listened to our calls to be bold and ambitious and we will now engage with the government to ensure county and rural areas receive a fair deal.”

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