Latest news with #combinedauthority
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cheshire councils call for mayoral election delay to 2027
The three councils in Cheshire are calling for their first mayoral election to take place a year later than originally East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington councils had been added to the government's Devolution Priority Programme earlier this year, with plans to elect the county's first mayor in May area's leaders have now asked the government for this to take place in 2027 said the move would give them "more time to put in place the right foundations". The BBC has contacted the Department for Local Government for a response. Cheshire and Warrington were one of six areas added to the Devolution Priority Programme in February.A government consultation took place earlier this year and it was proposed a combined authority would come into force in January had been concerns from the Conservative groups on both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester Councils about the timings of said they had concerns about the councils' "operational capacity" and "financial sustainability" to have a devolution programme ready for elections in 2026 and said a 12-month delay would offer a "more realistic timescale". In a statement, the leaders of the three councils said they were "committed" to devolution for Cheshire and Warrington."While we have always maintained that we want to release the potential benefits of devolution as early as possible, we have heard what people have said and recognise that by holding the mayoral election in May 2027 – at the same time as a number of local elections taking place across the area – we can reduce costs and potentially increase the number of people who will turn out to vote and have their voice heard."We will continue our work in the meantime to progress establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington in early 2026, subject to the councils' approval."This would still give our area more funding and more powers and be a positive step on our journey to electing a mayor in May 2027." A move to 2027 would also coincide with some local elections in the East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council are both due to have their next local elections, which would be full council elections, in next election, also a full council election, is set to be the following week, the two councils in Cumbria, which were also added to the Devolution Priority Programme, called for their mayoral elections to be delayed by a year. 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.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheshire and Warrington: Early 2026 for new combined authority
A combined authority for Cheshire and Warrington is set to be created early next year, ahead of the area's first mayoral elections in the from Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington councils were told the new authority will be created in the first two months of were also told more detail would be revealed next month about what powers will be devolved in a report setting out guidance received from the new combined authority is set to be in place for its first mayoral election on 7 May 2026. The update was given at a meeting of a joint committee of councillors and public servants from each of the three local authorities in the county of the new authority, each council would remain separate local authorities but would work together on areas including transport, skills, housing, the environment and creation was given the green light after the county was included in the government's devolution priority programme (DPP) in February. 'Significant' Funding to set up devolution in the area would mostly come from a government grant of £1m, the meeting committee is also waiting for a government response to a formal consultation on the creation of the new authority, which closed last East Council leader Nick Mannion said the government was expected to make a further announcement next month "as to whether Cheshire and Warrington have met the government's statutory tests to move forward for devolution"."This will be a trigger for a significant amount of detail to flow to us from the government in Whitehall," he told the committee.A total of £1m in funding would be provided through a mayoral capacity grant, which would be confirmed after government approval is granted.A further £250,000 has been made available from Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, made up of business rates retained by the economic development organisation, and the Local Government Association has also provided a £25,000 grant to support devolution cost of running a mayoral election would be reimbursed by the future combined authority, it has been Price, the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, told the meeting he welcomed the government funding."I know a lot of members of the public out there are nervous about council finances and what the cost is, but the department has funded this, alongside that grant from the Local Government Association."Ultimately, that's a form of endorsement that we're doing something the government is keen for us to pursue and they're putting their hand in their pocket to help make it happen." 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.
