Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what formal mechanisms and representation rights will be guaranteed for district and borough councils within the proposed Mayoral Strategic Authority for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

All new Mayoral Strategic Authorities will receive a 30-year Investment Fund and capacity funding to support with the cost of setting up and running the Authority; we will confirm the exact allocations for new Strategic Authorities as soon as possible. This core funding is in addition to other thematic funding streams, such as the incubator capital funding recently announced for emerging Strategic Authorities, of which Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland will receive £5.34m in 2027/28. Furthermore, the Government will support officers at the three councils with the establishment of the Strategic Authority, including through the sharing of best practice.

Government will now work with council leaders in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to commence the Strategic Authority establishment process and move towards final agreement. This will include a locally-led consultation with key stakeholders, the subsequent provision of formal consent by the local authorities, and an assessment of the statutory tests by the Secretary of State and, if met, the preparation and laying of legislation. We will work with local leaders to agree a suitable timeline for this process but our ambition is to set up new Strategic Authorities as quickly as possible.

Devolution is all about putting power in the hands of local leaders who know their communities best. Decisions on how exactly devolved funding is used will therefore be for mayors and local authority leaders.

The Government fully recognises the important role that district and borough councils have to play in delivering devolution and driving growth, and we have made it clear that we expect close working between all layers of local government in progressing devolution.