70-498: The North East Combined Authority ( NECA ) is a combined authority in North East England . It has a directly-elected Mayor and seven member councils: two are unitary authorities ( Durham and Northumberland ) and five are metropolitan borough councils ( Gateshead , Newcastle , North Tyneside , South Tyneside and Sunderland ). The combined authority's area and the separate Tees Valley devolved region occupy
140-469: A Greater Manchester Combined Authority as an indirectly elected top-tier strategic authority for Greater Manchester . Following the unsuccessful English mayoral referendums in 2012, combined authorities have been used as an alternative means to grant additional powers and funding as part of 'city deals'. In 2014, two indirectly elected combined authorities were established covering the ceremonial county areas of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire , and
210-628: A cabinet committee for England including other secretaries of state from departments whose remits mainly apply to England only. Following Labour's victory in the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new prime minister Keir Starmer informally met England's combined authority mayors and the mayor of London on 9 July. The first formal meeting of the Mayoral Council, chaired by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner , took place on 10 October 2024 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and
280-513: A general power of competence . The powers and functions to be shared are agreed by the metropolitan district , non-metropolitan district , non-metropolitan county or unitary authority councils. In 2014, the government consulted on changes to the legislation governing combined authorities. Proposed changes included extending the legislation to Greater London, Wales, and Scotland. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 received royal assent on 28 January 2016. The act allowed for
350-505: A 'Great South West' grouping of Cornwall , Devon , and Dorset (possibly with Somerset ), and another in Lancashire. The white paper was delayed and was eventually published on 2 February 2022. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 enhanced devolution and created a new form of authority called a combined county authority. The act allowed for more broader functions to be devolved to new and existing CAs and CCAs, and created
420-537: A CA, and a county council can become part of a CA even if only some of the non-metropolitan districts that make up the county are within the combined area. A local authority may only belong to one CA. CCAs can only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities. The members of a CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, a CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. There are three stages to
490-688: A Heart of Wessex combined authority. Previous plans in Hampshire have included a Solent Combined Authority in South Hampshire (potentially alongside the Isle of Wight) and a 'Heart of Hampshire' Deal including the remainder of the county. However, these plans were rejected in the South due to objections from Isle of Wight Council, and in the North of the county due to disagreements and the likelihood of
560-480: A deal, with leaders of both unitary authorities indicating a preference for a rotating chair instead of a mayor. A proposal for Lancashire failed in 2017. Council leaders agreed to the concept in June 2020, with suggestions of reducing the number of districts into three unitary authorities, or implementing a single unitary authority instead of a combined authority. The three proposed successor authorities would cover
630-644: A deal. Rutland was previously a district of Leicestershire between 1974 and 1997 before becoming a unitary authority, but is open to joining a Leicestershire deal. A Norfolk and Suffolk mayoral combined authority was proposed in November 2024 alongside a reorganisation of the existing two-tier local government structures in to a smaller number of unitary authorities . A proposal for a single Yorkshire Combined Authority, dubbed One Yorkshire, has been proposed for some time, but failed to gain government support, being rejected in 2019. The proposal had support from 18 of
700-528: A devolved assembly, which was rejected by voters. The North East Combined Authority (NECA) was established in April 2014, including seven councils: Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland. A devolution deal was agreed, including the creation of a mayor to be elected in 2017. In September 2016, that deal broke down, as the leaders south of the Tyne were worried about
770-644: A further two which each covered a metropolitan county and adjacent non-metropolitan districts: the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for Merseyside and the Borough of Halton unitary authority; and the North East Combined Authority for Tyne and Wear and the unitary authorities of County Durham and Northumberland . In 2016, a combined authority was formed for the metropolitan county of
SECTION 10
#1732773194866840-423: A mayor. Leicestershire County Council proposed a combined authority in 2015, with discussions after including an East Midlands deal. A Leicestershire deal has also been proposed by government but without Leicester; as the whitepaper stipulates a minimum population of 500,000, Leicester or Rutland would not be able to form individual devolution deals; both Leicester and Rutland have been proposed as joining part of
910-644: A mayoral combined authority. The role of the council would be to debate issues related to local and regional governance in England, to call ministers and experts to provide evidence and to advise the UK central Government on English affairs. The Existing Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government would be split into a Department for Housing and Communities and an Office for England, which would take on responsibility for oversight of devolved and local governance in England. The Secretary of State for England would chair
980-644: A multi-year single settlement, replacing a large number of individual grant funding streams for which they must submit individual competitive bids. In his 2024 budget , Hunt said that the North East Mayoral Combined Authority would have the same trailblazer deal. In return, the CAs would face greater oversight, including quarterly scrutiny sessions by new committees of local MPs. Since the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
1050-486: A substantial increase in creation in recent years. There are currently eleven such authorities, created between 2011 and 2024. A CA or CCA may not cross over to another combined area. Following the abolition of metropolitan county councils and the Greater London Council in 1986, England had no local government bodies with strategic authority over the major urban areas of the country. In 1999, following
1120-635: A successful referendum , the Labour government created a strategic authority for London (the Greater London Authority ), but no bodies were established to replace the metropolitan county councils outside London. The Blair government instead pursued the idea of elected regional assemblies , although following an unsuccessful referendum in 2004 in the most positive region – the North East – this idea had few proponents. In October 2010
1190-402: A wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority. A combined county authority ( CCA ) is a similar type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 , but may only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities . The members of
1260-467: Is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 . CAs are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over
1330-421: Is part of a long-term ambition to create a combined authority Hertfordshire districts have given support for a deal, but was not included in the 2022 white paper. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst
1400-556: The 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring the formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. Whilst not included in current plans, discussions are ongoing between local authorities and the government on an eventual deal. Whilst not included in current plans, discussions are occurring between local authorities and
1470-505: The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject the deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on the topic. The District and County Council previously disagreed over the election of a mayor. The government and the county council signed a devolution agreement on 8 December 2022, which included
SECTION 20
#17327731948661540-551: The Electoral Reform Society suggested the establishment of an "English Leaders' Forum" to bring together UK ministers with combined authority mayors, single local authority mayors and council leaders. It also suggested the creation of an "England Office" to act as a representative for English local government to the UK government and serve to coordinate between central and local government on English devolved matters. Conservative leaning think tank Onward proposed
1610-593: The University of Cambridge 's Bennett Institute for Public Policy proposed the formation of an "English Devolution Council", and the establishment of an "Office for England" led by a "Secretary of State for England". Under the proposals the English Devolution Council would include the mayor of London and existing combined authority mayors. An interim mechanism would be put in place for the participation of local leaders in areas of England without
1680-663: The West Midlands ; as a consequence, all former metropolitan counties are now covered by combined authorities. In 2016, the first combined authority to not cover a metropolitan county was formed. This was Tees Valley , which covers the area of the former county of Cleveland (now four unitary authorities in the ceremonial counties of Durham and North Yorkshire ), together with the unitary authority of Darlington . Two further combined authorities which do not cover ceremonial counties or former metropolitan counties were formed in 2017: West of England , comprising Bristol and two of
1750-464: The non-mayoral North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority happened on 7 May 2024. The new combined authority was operational by the end of May 2024. The Tyne and Wear County Council was abolished in 1986 alongside other metropolitan county governments. In 2004, a referendum (the 2004 North East England devolution referendum ) was held in the North East region to establish
1820-483: The 20 Yorkshire councils, with Sheffield and Rotherham both preferring the South Yorkshire alternative . The Mayor of South Yorkshire , Dan Jarvis , also supported a One Yorkshire proposal. A combined authority was agreed for York and North Yorkshire in 2022 (see below), and in the same year negotiations began regarding an authority for East Yorkshire and Hull (also below). Berkshire County Council
1890-449: The CA or CCA is formally created, dissolved, or altered by a statutory instrument . A number of CAs and CCAs were created in 2024, including the North East Combined Authority , East Midlands Combined County Authority , and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority . Nine CA and CCA mayors were elected during the 2024 United Kingdom local elections , including the newly created Mayor of
1960-463: The CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, the CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. CAs and CCAs are predominantly created in areas where they are considered likely to improve transport, economic development, and regeneration, but their creation is encouraged by Government and there has been
2030-604: The Coalition Government introduced measures to replace regional development agencies , which were described as inefficient and costly. They were superseded by local enterprise partnerships , voluntary groups whose membership was drawn from the private sector with local authority input. Earlier in 2010, the Government accepted a proposal from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to establish
2100-461: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities” with hopes for a ministerial meeting. The Original proposal for Cumbria failed in 2017. A subsequent attempt for a single unitary authority failed in 2019, leading to a new proposal for a combined authority in late 2019, alongside replacing the two-tier system with two unitary authorities. As the initial plan for the unitarization
2170-667: The England-only Mayoral Council , and of the UK-wide Council of the Nations and Regions , both of which were established by the incoming Labour government in 2024. CAs and CCAs consist of two or more contiguous English local government areas. The creation of a CA or CCA is voluntary and all local authorities within the area must give their consent before it can be created. The local authority of any district of England outside Greater London can join
North East Combined Authority - Misplaced Pages Continue
2240-564: The Exchequer , Jeremy Hunt , announced in his 2023 budget speech that "trailblazer deals" had been struck with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority which included reforms to their funding models. As part of these deals, the combined authorities will be treated in a similar manner to government departments at the next spending review and each will be allocated
2310-501: The Government announced a larger mayoral combined authority would be created for the region. Durham was to negotiate a separate county deal. On 28 December 2022, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove announced a £1.4 billion devolution deal. The deal included the establishment of a unified mayoral combined authority, with a mayor to be elected in 2024 . Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council , said local councils were being forced into
2380-545: The Mayoral Council would eventually evolve into an all-England forum. Combined authority mayors and the Mayor of London also meet informally on a monthly basis as the Mayors Network (M10 Group) allowing them to consult each other, coordinate their actions, and gain access to UK government ministers. This network has been chaired by Tracy Barbin since May 2022 and previously by Dan Jarvis. As of October 2024, 48% of
2450-744: The North East , Mayor of the East Midlands , and Mayor of York and North Yorkshire . Several new combined authorities and combined county authorities have been proposed. In 2022 a government white paper was published which included nine areas invited to take part in devolution deals. In September 2024, the UK Government agreed to the formation of mayoral combined authorities for Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire, and non-mayoral combined authorities for Lancashire, and Devon and Torbay. In early 2022, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay were selected as one of nine pilot areas in England by
2520-495: The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024. The NECA cabinet has eight voting members and two non-voting members: The mayor provides leadership to the combined authority and chair combined authority meetings. A deputy mayor was appointed from among the voting members of the authority and the mayor may delegate mayoral functions to authority members. When
2590-586: The Secretary of State for approval in early May 2024. The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority is scheduled to be created in the Autumn of 2024 following parliamentary approval. After the government rejected the One Yorkshire proposal (see above) and a cross-Humber deal with North Lincolnshire failed, a Hull and East Riding alternative has been proposed. Negotiations have begun with government on
2660-513: The South Essex plan favoured retaining the current status. The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government stated in a letter that he did not favour the plan for a South Essex Combined Authority, but would be willing to discuss it. Seven councils in Sussex including Brighton and Hove have an economic board which coordinated development, skills and collaboration between councils. It
2730-487: The UK government in the Levelling Up White Paper for "County Deal" negotiations. However, Plymouth City Council decided to withdraw from the deal in November 2023. Devon and Torbay proceeded without Plymouth with a joint proposal for a Level 2 Devolution Deal, a Combined Authority without a directly elected mayor. The deal was approved by both Devon County Council and Torbay Council and submitted to
2800-448: The UK government. The two councils have already formed a Joint Executive Committee and Economic Growth Body. A proposed devolution deal was narrowly voted against in 2016, but has re-emerged in 2020. A separate deal was also proposed for a "South Essex" Combined Authority, covering Southend , Thurrock , Basildon , Castlepoint , Brentwood , and Rochford . The whole Essex plan also suggested forming four new unitary authorities, whilst
2870-717: The United Kingdom left the European Union ) encouraged to borrow from European institutions for social and environmental schemes which met EU objectives. Loans were made with conditions attached which furthered EU policies. By 2015, Greater Manchester Combined Authority had agreed loans from the European Investment Bank in excess of £1 billion, with similar liabilities to the Treasury and private business. Combined authority mayors are members of
North East Combined Authority - Misplaced Pages Continue
2940-527: The authority first meets it will have to decide what title the mayor is to be known by. The functions devolved to the mayor are: The mayor is a member of the Mayoral Council for England and the Council of the Nations and Regions . As of May 2024, the cabinet of the combined authority is as follows: Combined authorities and combined county authorities A combined authority ( CA )
3010-424: The constituent authorities being reorganised. A Dorset combined authority was proposed by the county's former nine constituent councils, and is being considered by the two unitary councils ( Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ) which replaced them in April 2019. In 2021 a new plan including Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole was being pursued, though lacking appetite for
3080-484: The council is expected to meet on a quarterly basis. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it set up the Mayoral Council to "strengthen the relationships between central government and the mayors" ahead of publishing a white paper on devolution. The first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions, which also included England's combined authority mayors and the mayor of London, took place
3150-462: The county council. The proposal failed in 2016 after constituent councils voted against it, with subsequent discussions of an East Midlands devolution deal. Currently the councils of Lincolnshire are working on a 10-point plan to submit to government for a Lincolnshire deal. Dorset Council , Somerset Council and Wiltshire Council submitted an expression of interest in September 2024 to form
3220-448: The creation of an elected mayor with the title Elected Leader. Subject to consultation, and council and parliamentary approval, it was hoped that the first Elected Leader would have been elected in 2024 to coincide with the police and crime commissioner elections. In September 2024, following the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring
3290-414: The creation or amendment of a CA. Firstly a review must be undertaken to establish the likelihood that a CA would improve: "...the exercise of statutory functions relating to transport in the area, the effectiveness and efficiency of transport in the area, the exercise of statutory functions relating to economic development and regeneration in the area, and economic conditions in the area." On completion of
3360-474: The deal and that it did not represent levelling up ; he said he agreed with its introduction nevertheless. The seven local councils approved the final plans for the NECA on 9 November 2023, subject to approval by the chief executives of the councils, to allow for the Secretary of State to make the order for the NECA to be established. The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024
3430-415: The following day. Unlike the proposed "Council of England", the Mayoral Council does not include local government representatives in areas without a mayoral combined authority, or other stakeholders. However, at the 2024 Labour Party Conference , Labour reiterated its commitment to English devolution, saying that all areas of England "should eventually be covered by mayoral devolution", which would mean that
3500-488: The formation of a National Mayors Association and creation of various Joint Delivery Taskforces involving the UK central government, metro mayors and local authorities in a report titled Give Back Control published in 2022. In a report titled Devolving English Government published in April 2023, to counter what they described as over-centralisation and a democratic deficit in England, the Institute for Government and
3570-448: The formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. A leadership board has been formed by Staffordshire County Council and its constituent districts, with an invitation to unitary Stoke-on-Trent. There is some interest in devolution talks, but requiring Stoke-on-Trent's participation. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it
SECTION 50
#17327731948663640-575: The government on an eventual deal. Mayoral Council for England The Mayoral Council for England is a political body in England that brings together ministers from the UK Government , the Mayor of London , and combined authority mayors . UK prime minister David Cameron proposed in 2012 that England's directly elected mayors sit within an "English Cabinet of Mayors", giving them
3710-426: The introduction of directly elected mayors to combined authorities in England and Wales with powers over housing, transport, planning, and policing. In 2020, the government planned to produce a white paper on 'Devolution and Local Recovery', which was expected to create new combined authorities with mayors – or "county mayors" – for non-metropolitan areas of the country. These have been tentatively suggested to be
3780-519: The loss of EU funding, and in 2017 no mayor was elected. From 2 November 2018, the boundaries of NECA were reduced to Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside. The remaining areas left to form a mayoral combined authority called the North of Tyne Combined Authority. The division of the Tyneside built up area into two combined authorities was criticised. In the Levelling Up white paper,
3850-464: The next wave of county deals, but without a mayor. Proposals by Cheshire East , Cheshire West and Chester , and Warrington underwent a public consultation in Summer 2017 but government permission was still being sought in spring 2020. All three councils are in favour of a non-mayoral deal, although local Conservative MPs were not supportive. Warrington's Chief Executive has “received a letter from
3920-408: The northern and coastal, central and southern, and eastern and Pennine areas. All potential constituent authorities have reviewed plans created by the county council, and are now "studying the detail of the white paper and its implications for driving forward our devolution aspirations”. A plan for a Lincolnshire devolution was proposed, which would have included all constituent boroughs as well as
3990-485: The opportunity to share ideas and represent their regions at English national level. This proposed cabinet of mayors would have been chaired by the prime minister and meet at least twice a year. However, no action was taken to form such a body. Plans for a "Council of England" featured in a 2022 Labour Party report on constitutional reform by Gordon Brown titled A New Britain: Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy . The proposed council would be chaired by
4060-532: The population and 26% of the land area of England is represented on the council. The membership of the Mayoral Council is currently as follows: The membership of the council will increase as new mayoral combined authorities are established in England. In September 2024, mayoral combined authorities were approved for Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire with mayors for these authorities expected to be elected in May 2025. An unofficial meeting of mayors
4130-569: The power for CAs and CCAs to be allowed to change the title of mayor. CAs and CCAs are bodies corporate and are able to assume the role of an integrated transport authority and economic prosperity board . This gives the authority the power to exercise any function of its constituent councils that relates to economic development and regeneration, and any of the functions that are available to integrated transport authorities. For transport purposes, CAs and CCAs are able to borrow money and can levy their constituent authorities. CAs and CCAs were (until
4200-453: The previous devolution deal gave NECA increased devolved powers. The deeper devolution deal was signed on 18 March 2024. The deal includes provisions to establish a new North East Strategic Energy Board to coordinate energy supply and demand and promote growth in the offshore wind sector and a new North East Coastal and Rural Taskforce to strengthen the region’s rural and coastal communities. The arrangements for NECA's governance were set out in
4270-623: The prime minister and would include leaders of combined authorities , the mayor of London, representatives of local government and other stakeholders in England. Earlier, Labour's manifesto for the 2017 general election included a commitment to establish the post of a "Minister for England" within the Department of Communities and Local Government. The 2021 The Dunlop Review into UK Government Union Capability suggested that consideration could be given to establishing an "English Regions Forum" to "feed views in from sub-national governments in England to UK Government ministers". A 2022 report by
SECTION 60
#17327731948664340-494: The review, the local authorities produce and publish a proposed scheme of the combined authority to be created, including the area that will be covered, the constitution, and the functions. This will include details of membership of the CA or CCA, remuneration, and how meetings will be chaired and recorded. Following a period of consultation and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government ,
4410-560: The three adjacent unitary authorities in Gloucestershire and Somerset , all of which had been within the former county of Avon ; and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . In 2020, it was reported that other combined authorities for non-metropolitan parts of the country – such as Cumbria , Lancashire , North Yorkshire, and Somerset – were under consideration, but the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on governance meant decisions were delayed until late 2021. The Chancellor of
4480-549: The topic. Suffolk County Council's plans for a county-wide deal have been supported by the constituent district councils with backing from its local MPs, although opposing a mayoral deal. Suffolk County Council signed a devolution agreement with the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities in December 2022, which included an Elected Leader who will lead the County Council. However, in September 2024, following
4550-489: The wider statistical region of North East England . The authority was announced on 28 December 2022 in the North East devolution deal . On 6 March 2024, the Government announced the North East deeper devolution deal , which allowed the new authority to absorb multiple previous devolved bodies and gave NECA increased devolved powers. The first election for the authority took place on 2 May 2024. The replacement of both
4620-508: Was abolished in 1998 , leaving the districts as unitary authorities . In 2021 the constituent districts agreed to submit an expression of interest in a county deal. The six unitary councils formed a joint Berkshire Prosperity Board in February 2024 and submitted an expression of interest in forming a non-mayoral combined authority in September 2024. Although not included in the 2022 white paper, Buckinghamshire Council hopes to be part of
4690-413: Was based on the assumption of a county-level combined authority to manage adult and children's services, the deal has been prioritized. There are disagreements between Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness on whether the deal should include a mayor. On 30 September 2024, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council jointly submitted an expression of interest in forming a combined authority to
4760-401: Was laid before Parliament on 8 February 2024 and was made as a statutory instrument on 20 March 2024. The Order dissolved two combined authorities to create NECA, prescribed the regeneration powers which the new Combined Authority holds and set out the functions which the elected Mayor will control. On 6 March 2024, the Government announced the North East deeper devolution deal, which supersedes
4830-475: Was passed, there was an influx of new CAs and CCAs either being created or planned to be created, and further powers to be devolved to existing authorities. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 allowed for certain functions over transport to be delegated from central government. The Localism Act 2011 allowed additional transfers of powers from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and gave combined authorities
4900-407: Was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject the deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on
#865134