Devolution for Cheshire and Warrington

Frequently asked questions

What is devolution?

Devolution is about national government transferring powers and funding away from London and into regions.

It’s not about merging councils or taking decisions away from councils. Individual councils will retain most of their responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people. Government has made it clear that devolution is a priority.

We need to work together to make a positive case for a devolution agreement for Cheshire and Warrington to ensure we’re ready to progress and secure the benefits as soon as possible.

What are the benefits?

We’re ambitious for our area and we believe devolution would bring power and investment that would benefit all parts of Cheshire and Warrington. It would enable us to make decisions on investing in the things that are important to our residents, communities, and businesses, rather than decisions about our area and its almost one million residents being made in London. 

We’re a successful area but we also face pressure in areas such as transport, skills, and housing. We need affordable and convenient transport for residents in our rural areas and our towns, large and small, affordable homes in the right places, close to employment and services, and a workforce with the skills our businesses need now and in the future. 

A devolution agreement would help us meet some of these challenges. We know our area best, and it would allow us to directly address issues that affect our residents and communities, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach from London. 

People don’t live their lives according to council boundaries – they live, work, learn and spend time in different places – so a regional approach to improving things like skills shortages, housing, and transport makes sense. 

Devolution would give our area greater control over how we are governed and resourced. Working with the three council leaders, a regional Mayor will aim to promote more strategic and joined-up planning.

What would a new Combined Authority do?

A new Mayoral Combined Authority will be made up of representatives from the three councils and it will be chaired by an elected Mayor. It will further increase collaboration between councils over issues like transport and housing, that require joined-up planning across council boundaries.

A new Mayoral Combined Authority would be able to make decisions and investments that benefit people living and working in Cheshire and Warrington.

Would we have to have an elected Mayor?

Put simply, the best agreements come with a Mayor. The government White Paper makes it clear that if we want more powers and investment then we would need to elect a Mayor.

The rationale behind having an elected Mayor is that it will provide clearer lines of accountability and transparency for the public to engage with policy decisions made in their local area.

In this sense, a Mayor has the potential to demonstrate strong leadership and promote an ambitious vision for the area. They will also represent Cheshire and Warrington on a national and international platform, with a seat at the table at the Council of Nations and Regions.

What is the timetable?

We are part of the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) and are working towards setting up a new Mayoral Combined Authority in early 2026, with a Mayor to be elected in May 2027, subject to the formal approval of the three councils in September 2025 – read more about the democratic process.

Prior to this, views have been sought from our residents, communities and businesses on how devolution could benefit Cheshire and Warrington. The government has also undertaken a statutory consultation on devolution, which ended on 13 April 2025.

The government has confirmed that Cheshire and Warrington has passed the statutory tests and can progress with a devolution agreement.

When would we expect to see a difference?

A Cheshire and Warrington Mayoral Combined Authority would grow over time. We wouldn’t expect to see big changes overnight, but a devolution agreement unlocks the potential for much greater funding and powers across a number of key areas.

A lot of the priorities of a Mayoral Combined Authority are longer-term, to do with things like transport, skills, and the environment.

Devolution is a process, and we would not get the powers that our neighbours in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region have on day one. However, it could allow us to make improvements in the short and medium term across Cheshire and Warrington, giving us more say and more powers on the local issues that matter most to our communities.

We would be ambitious to move to the same powers and types of investment as Liverpool and Manchester as soon as possible. 

How much funding would this bring and how much will it cost?

Any agreement negotiated with government would devolve agreed funding and extra powers to the area.

Government has confirmed its Mayoral Investment Fund allocations for the areas on the devolution priority programme (DPP). Importantly, it has confirmed that Cheshire and Warrington would receive £21.7 million per annum over the next 30 years.

The first instalment in 2026-27 would be £10.85 million, in advance of inaugural Mayoral elections in May 2027. This would take our area’s overall allocation to more than £650 million in funding over the 30-year period. This funding is split 50% for capital investment and 50% revenue funding.

Alongside confirmation of the Mayoral Investment Fund, further instalments of the Mayoral Capacity Grant have also been confirmed. It was already known that, subject to each council voting to proceed with a devolution agreement, a grant of £1 million would be released in 2025-26 to cover the local costs of creating a Mayoral Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington.

It has now been confirmed that a minimum of an additional £3 million will be made available over the following three years. This will bring the total Mayoral Capacity Funding to a minimum of £4 million between 2025-26 and 2028-29, to cover the costs of establishing, mobilising, and operating the new authority as well as reflecting the ongoing transfer of funds and functions from the government to the Combined Authority over the first few years.

The funding now confirmed only represents the base funding for the Combined Authority and its investment programme. It is expected that additional funds would be received as the Combined Authority’s functions increase, including investment for transport, skills, and housing.

Read more about the funding confirmation.

Will devolution effectively mean a merger of the three councils?

No – importantly, devolution is largely about drawing down additional powers and funding from government.

It will not mean a merger of the three individual councils, or a return to the previous Cheshire County Council. Each council – Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington – will remain and be responsible for providing important day-to-day services and setting/managing their own budgets.

Would this take power away from local councils?

The majority of day-to-day council services will remain the responsibility of the three councils, but there would be opportunities for the Mayoral Combined Authority to support more joined-up work in some areas such as transport.

The new Mayoral Combined Authority would receive additional powers and functions from government to facilitate collaboration and joined up working between the three councils in the area.

The three councils will still be responsible for public service delivery in their relevant constituencies, and the new authority would be responsible for setting the strategy for Cheshire and Warrington and delivering on these plans.

The constituent members of the Mayoral Combined Authority will be the elected Mayor and six constituent members, comprised of two councillors from each of the three councils, who will all have a single vote.

Why now for devolution?

Devolution is a government priority, and we want to make sure that Cheshire and Warrington is at the front of the queue so that we can secure the benefits of a devolution agreement as soon as possible.

We want powers to be transferred from London to our area at the earliest opportunity, giving us better local control of transport, skills, growth, the environment, and more.

Much of our area is very rural, will the funds benefit these areas?

We’re ambitious for Cheshire and Warrington as a whole, and we believe devolution would bring power and investment that would benefit all parts of our area. 

We need affordable and convenient transport for residents in rural areas and towns, large and small affordable homes in the right places that are accessible for employment and services, and a workforce with the skills our businesses need. 

Cheshire and Warrington council leaders have declared that “no one will be left behind” and that “the benefits of devolution will be felt by communities across the whole area”.

What will this mean for transport?

One of the powers a Mayor could have is developing a Local Transport Plan.

This would be developed with the councils and set out how we work together to achieve an accessible, well-connected, sustainable transport network that works for all residents and communities across Cheshire and Warrington.

What are other Combined Authorities doing?

These are just some examples of what other combined authorities are achieving:
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Greater Manchester Combined Authority has set up the Bee Network, a new public transport system, which includes over 250 affordable bus and tram services, alongside a cycle hire scheme.
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Liverpool City Region has invested £105 million to retrofit thousands of homes across the region, improving energy efficiency and helping residents save money on their bills.

In York and North Yorkshire, £27 million has been invested to support businesses, reduce emissions, and boost adult vocational training courses.

How will moving forward with devolution be decided?

The formal process to progress devolution for Cheshire and Warrington officially began with consideration by the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee at a meeting on Friday 29 August 2025.

A report to this committee set out the process needed to approve the establishment of a Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, including the intention to hold inaugural Mayoral elections in May 2027.

Joint Committee approval marked the first formal step in a series of democratic approvals required to unlock greater powers and funding for Cheshire and Warrington.

Each constituent council – Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Warrington Borough Council – will hold formal meetings where councillors will vote on whether to proceed with the devolution plans.

- Cheshire West and Chester Council – Full Council meeting on Tuesday 9 September, Cabinet meeting to formally approve on Wednesday 10 September
- Warrington Borough Council – Full Council meeting on Monday 15 September, Cabinet meeting to formally approve on Monday 22 September
- Cheshire East Council – Wednesday 17 September

In line with governance arrangements, additional reports must also be presented to the Cabinet meetings of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Warrington Borough Council, as outlined above.

What if one council votes not to progress with devolution?

If one council votes not to progress with a devolution agreement for Cheshire and Warrington, the process stops.

All three constituent councils must vote to progress in order to establish a Mayoral Combined Authority for the area.

How will this affect each councils' finances, budget position, and debt level?

Each constituent council remains responsible for setting and managing its own budget.

These budget setting processes and subsequent management and scrutiny would not be affected by the creation of a new Combined Authority. Each council will also remain responsible for their own debt level and will not be affected by another council’s debt.

A new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority would be responsible for its own finances with the funding it receives from government.

What if we don't do it now?

Devolution is a government priority, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks to create a consistent approach to devolution structures across the country – and as far as possible give increased consistency to new and existing governance arrangements.

It also enables government to establish new Combined Authorities, or expand existing authorities, without the consent of local areas.

It’s not now or never, it’s now or later – now means we’ll feel a bigger benefit, sooner. Delaying means that we have less control over what devolution will look like for our area.

Will the new Combined Authority charge a Mayoral precept?

An elected Mayor would have the power to add a charge, or precept, onto council tax bills to help pay for the Mayor’s work. This must be to fund a specific programme of work.

When the Mayor proposes a precept as part of their draft budget, the other Combined Authority members can propose amendments, including on the amount of precept.

Devolution offers exciting opportunities

What does devolution mean for us?

Frequently asked questions

Find additional information about devolution on the Local Government Association website
‍

Devolution offers exciting opportunities

What does devolution mean for us?

Frequently asked questions

Find additional information about devolution on the Local Government Association website‍

Find additional information about devolution on the Local Government Association website
‍