Cheshire and Warrington given green light for devolution
Plans for Cheshire and Warrington to get more powers from the government are moving forward, after the three councils were given the go-ahead to move forward with a devolution deal.The area has been included in the government's devolution priority programme (DPP), which local leaders previously said would bring "significant power and funding" to the county.The area's three councils had asked the government for a devolution deal which would include electing its first mayor in May 2026.Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said Cheshire and Warrington would be one of six areas joining the DPP.
Council leaders previously said a devolution deal would benefit residents, communities and businesses in Cheshire and Warrington.Some areas of the country have been given permission to postpone elections while devolution talks take place, but there are no elections taking place in Cheshire this year.
Devolution has been discussed for the county for several years.In 2015, the three councils drew up a bid but it was rejected a year later by councillors in Warrington - as there had been a split over whether to join the Liverpool City Region or work with Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils.Warrington agreed to join a deal in 2017, but although discussions with the government took place, no agreement was made.After the general election last year, the councils began talks with the government about devolution and last month, the three authorities formally submitted a request to be considered for the devolution priority programme.Last week, leaders said any combined authority would be called Cheshire and Warrington, after some calls for it to just feature the county name.The councils will now work with the government to confirm their deal and what powers they will take on, ahead of the first mayoral elections which are expected to take place on 7 May 2026.
Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
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