*LGC research reveals resistance to metro mayors remains despite additional funding on offer*
The levelling up white paper named nine areas that have been invited to do the first wave of county deals. Those chosen appear to reflect the government’s commitment to address regional inequalities, with the south-east conspicuous by its absence.
The white paper also publishes a devolution framework, which sets out what powers and funding areas can expect to receive under different levels of devolution. Those areas that opt for a directly elected mayor under tier three of the framework will stand to gain the most. However, LGC’s research found while there was some degree of interest in devolution in most places, resistance to new metro mayors or their alternative, county governors, remains strong.
On our map we have categorised places with well developed plans and a high degree of local agreement as ‘seeking devolution’. ‘Local interest’ refers to areas where discussions are at an earlier stage.
After the first flurry of devolution deals in 2015 and 2016 progress has been slow elsewhere in the country.
However, the white paper’s plans to introduce a new upper tier only combined authority and no longer allow individual councils to effectively veto neighbours’ ambitions could finally get things moving.
# Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire
Bedford BC and Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire councils have established a growth board. However, the members have not had formal discussions regarding a devolution deal.
West Northants leader Jonathan Nunn (Con) said with Northamptonshire having gone through two years of unitarisation, “there doesn’t seem to be any eagerness” for more upheaval.
# Berkshire
The six Berkshire unitaries agreed last autumn to submit an expression of interest in a county deal. West Berkshire Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con) told LGC the councils were now taking time to consider the white paper.
# Buckinghamshire
The recently formed county unitary was regarded as a front runner for a county deal in 2021 and had well developed proposals for a non-mayoral deal. Leader Martin Tett (Con) told LGC he was disappointed the council was not named in the first wave but was ready to go and expecting to be part of the second wave.
# Cheshire and Warrington
Cheshire is “ready to go” on devolution, the leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council told LGC, despite the county not being chosen in the first tranche of devo deals.
Louise Gittins (Lab) said the three unitiaries – Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East Council and Warrington BC – had been working together and “if someone asked us to do devolution tomorrow, we could do it”.
The county is looking into the idea of a combined authority but is adamant it does not want a directly elected mayor.
Stephen Broomhead, chief executive of Warrington, told LGC he has already “received a letter from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities” and hoped to have a meeting with a minister before the end of March. However, local Conservative MPs are said to be opposed to the plans.
# Cornwall
Cornwall has had a non-mayoral devolution deal in place since 2015 and was also named in the first wave of county deals. Cornwall deputy leader David Harris (Con) told LGC he was undecided on the matter of a mayor.
# Cumbria
The county and its six districts are reorganising into two unitaries but the area was named in the white paper as a priority for a mayoral devolution deal. The original proposal to split the county in two was based on adults and children’s services continuing to be delivered at county level through a combined authority.
Leaders of districts covered by the new eastern unitary have previously told LGC they do not support the idea of a mayor for Cumbria, putting them on a potential collision course with their counterparts in the planned western unitary.
Asked about the Cumbria situation in Parliament, communities secretary Michael Gove indicated he would force through the mayoral model in the face of local opposition.
# Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
The leaders of four East Midlands councils have said they will work together to consider new devolved powers, reviving the prospect of a mayoral devolution deal.
Nottinghamshire CC with Nottingham City Council and Derbyshire CC with Derby City Council were announced as two of the nine first wave county deals. In a joint statement, Derbyshire leader Barry Lewis (Con), Nottinghamshire leader Ben Bradley (Con), Nottingham leader David Mellen (Lab) and Derby leader Chris Poulter (Con) said they had met to “discuss all the options available to us” and initial discussions had also taken place between officers and government officials.
They said: “It is clear that the East Midlands has not had its fair share of government funding for a number of years, so it is important that we explore every avenue to address this issue.”
Previous plans for a North Midlands devolution deal covering the four councils collapsed in 2016.
Speaking to LGC, the leaders of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham did not rule out adopting a directly elected mayor. Derby did not respond to our request for comment.
# Devon, Plymouth & Torbay
The county and two unitaries are planning to form a combined authority without a directly elected mayor.
Devon leader John Hart (Con) told LGC it had been agreed that he would lead on the combined authority because, with a population of 800,000, Devon is much bigger than Plymouth (264,000) and Torbay (136,000).
Plymouth chief executive Tracey Lee is to work alongside Cllr Hart on developing the deal as the chief officer.
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# [EXCLUSIVE: Devo map finds new deals in sight as negotiations begin](https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/exclusive-devo-map-finds-new-deals-in-sight-as-negotiations-begin-07-03-2022/)
*LGC research reveals resistance to metro mayors remains despite additional funding on offer*
The levelling up white paper named nine areas that have been invited to do the first wave of county deals. Those chosen appear to reflect the government’s commitment to address regional inequalities, with the south-east conspicuous by its absence.
The white paper also publishes a devolution framework, which sets out what powers and funding areas can expect to receive under different levels of devolution. Those areas that opt for a directly elected mayor under tier three of the framework will stand to gain the most. However, LGC’s research found while there was some degree of interest in devolution in most places, resistance to new metro mayors or their alternative, county governors, remains strong.
On our map we have categorised places with well developed plans and a high degree of local agreement as ‘seeking devolution’. ‘Local interest’ refers to areas where discussions are at an earlier stage.
After the first flurry of devolution deals in 2015 and 2016 progress has been slow elsewhere in the country.
However, the white paper’s plans to introduce a new upper tier only combined authority and no longer allow individual councils to effectively veto neighbours’ ambitions could finally get things moving.
# Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire
Bedford BC and Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire councils have established a growth board. However, the members have not had formal discussions regarding a devolution deal.
West Northants leader Jonathan Nunn (Con) said with Northamptonshire having gone through two years of unitarisation, “there doesn’t seem to be any eagerness” for more upheaval.
# Berkshire
The six Berkshire unitaries agreed last autumn to submit an expression of interest in a county deal. West Berkshire Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con) told LGC the councils were now taking time to consider the white paper.
# Buckinghamshire
The recently formed county unitary was regarded as a front runner for a county deal in 2021 and had well developed proposals for a non-mayoral deal. Leader Martin Tett (Con) told LGC he was disappointed the council was not named in the first wave but was ready to go and expecting to be part of the second wave.
# Cheshire and Warrington
Cheshire is “ready to go” on devolution, the leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council told LGC, despite the county not being chosen in the first tranche of devo deals.
Louise Gittins (Lab) said the three unitiaries – Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East Council and Warrington BC – had been working together and “if someone asked us to do devolution tomorrow, we could do it”.
The county is looking into the idea of a combined authority but is adamant it does not want a directly elected mayor.
Stephen Broomhead, chief executive of Warrington, told LGC he has already “received a letter from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities” and hoped to have a meeting with a minister before the end of March. However, local Conservative MPs are said to be opposed to the plans.
# Cornwall
Cornwall has had a non-mayoral devolution deal in place since 2015 and was also named in the first wave of county deals. Cornwall deputy leader David Harris (Con) told LGC he was undecided on the matter of a mayor.
# Cumbria
The county and its six districts are reorganising into two unitaries but the area was named in the white paper as a priority for a mayoral devolution deal. The original proposal to split the county in two was based on adults and children’s services continuing to be delivered at county level through a combined authority.
Leaders of districts covered by the new eastern unitary have previously told LGC they do not support the idea of a mayor for Cumbria, putting them on a potential collision course with their counterparts in the planned western unitary.
Asked about the Cumbria situation in Parliament, communities secretary Michael Gove indicated he would force through the mayoral model in the face of local opposition.
# Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
The leaders of four East Midlands councils have said they will work together to consider new devolved powers, reviving the prospect of a mayoral devolution deal.
Nottinghamshire CC with Nottingham City Council and Derbyshire CC with Derby City Council were announced as two of the nine first wave county deals. In a joint statement, Derbyshire leader Barry Lewis (Con), Nottinghamshire leader Ben Bradley (Con), Nottingham leader David Mellen (Lab) and Derby leader Chris Poulter (Con) said they had met to “discuss all the options available to us” and initial discussions had also taken place between officers and government officials.
They said: “It is clear that the East Midlands has not had its fair share of government funding for a number of years, so it is important that we explore every avenue to address this issue.”
Previous plans for a North Midlands devolution deal covering the four councils collapsed in 2016.
Speaking to LGC, the leaders of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham did not rule out adopting a directly elected mayor. Derby did not respond to our request for comment.
# Devon, Plymouth & Torbay
The county and two unitaries are planning to form a combined authority without a directly elected mayor.
Devon leader John Hart (Con) told LGC it had been agreed that he would lead on the combined authority because, with a population of 800,000, Devon is much bigger than Plymouth (264,000) and Torbay (136,000).
Plymouth chief executive Tracey Lee is to work alongside Cllr Hart on developing the deal as the chief officer.