The Government has unveiled a significant expansion of support for England’s metro mayors, with high-performing civil servants set to be embedded within mayoral authorities as part of a new devolution-focused initiative led through No10 North.
Announced during the first virtual “situation room” meeting convened by No10 North, the package represents the largest transfer of Whitehall capacity to local leaders to date. The move comes just one month after the launch of No10 North, which was established to place local communities and regional priorities at the centre of national decision-making.
The measures respond directly to concerns raised by mayors during the inaugural National Economic Council meeting in July, where local leaders called for stronger local capability, quicker decision-making and closer collaboration with central government.
From the autumn, every mayoral authority in England will receive a team of between five and ten experienced civil servants on six to nine-month secondments.
The embedded officials will provide specialist expertise and additional capacity to help local leaders deliver on devolved powers and drive economic growth. Importantly, mayors will have the flexibility to request the specific skills required to address local challenges and opportunities.
The initiative is intended to strengthen local government capability as the Government progresses what it has described as a once-in-a-generation devolution settlement.
Alongside the secondment programme, ministers announced several new initiatives designed to boost leadership capability and digital transformation within mayoral authorities.
These include:
- A new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot in Yorkshire and Humber, aimed at creating more public sector career opportunities outside London while developing future leaders with experience across local and national government.
- Expansion of the Future Leaders Scheme to include officials working in mayoral and local authorities.
- A new Digital Devolution programme focused on unlocking government data while developing AI, digital and data expertise across regional authorities.
- Joint working between the Minister for Growth, Minister for Sport and regional mayors on the Stadium Regeneration Accelerator, supporting sports-led regeneration projects that can unlock jobs, investment and new housing developments.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham commented:
“No10 North is putting more power into every postcode across the country so communities can unleash and unlock their own potential.
“I’m bringing together Mayors from different political parties to work on these challenges, because people deserve problem-solving rather than point-scoring.”
According to the Government, No10 North has already delivered several key outcomes in its first month of operation.
These include placing regional mayors at the heart of national economic decision-making through the National Economic Council, creating a direct route for local leaders to raise barriers to growth with central government and advancing support for greater local control of bus services in the West Midlands.
The initiative has also coordinated work across government departments to support devolution priorities and improve local delivery capabilities in areas such as skills, leadership, growth and digital transformation.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:
“We want to see more power and resource shifted away from Westminster and back into the hands of our communities where it belongs.
“We’re also giving our mayors the tools they need to push on and deliver on what matters for their community, whether that’s new transport links, more safe and secure homes, regeneration projects, or everything in between.
“No10 North is at the heart of our devolution revolution, and we will continue to listen closely on how we can help support our mayors to drive good growth in every postcode – and back our regions.”
For local authorities and combined authorities, the announcement signals a deeper partnership with Whitehall and a commitment to strengthening regional delivery capability. The combination of additional expertise, leadership development programmes and enhanced digital capacity could accelerate infrastructure, housing, transport and regeneration projects across England.
With mayors gaining greater access to government talent and resources, the next phase of devolution appears increasingly focused not only on transferring powers, but also on ensuring local leaders have the capability to deliver tangible outcomes for communities and businesses.
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