Government to second civil servants into mayoral authorities

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said 18 mayoral strategic authorities are expected to be included in the initial secondment programme. Two further strategic authorities currently forming could also see secondments in the future.

The programme will begin with an initial pilot, with every mayoral authority set to receive between five and ten civil servants on a 6–9-month secondment.

“The teams will provide the skills and expertise needed to support a once-in-a-generation devolution settlement. Mayors will be given the freedom to request the type of skills they need,” the Ministry said.

The move is part of a package of measures announced following what has been dubbed the first No10 North “virtual situation room”, a meeting of Government ministers and mayors.

Other measures include:

• A new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot in Yorkshire and Humber, “providing more opportunities to build successful careers in regions outside London and creating a new pipeline of future leaders with experience working in local and central government”.
• Expansion of the Future Leaders Scheme, a civil service programme to develop high potential individuals, to mayoral and local authority officials.
• A Digital Devolution programme to unlock government data and build AI, digital and data capability in mayoral authorities.
• The Minister for Growth and Minister for Sport working with Mayors on the Stadium Regeneration Accelerator, which will support major sports-led regeneration projects “and bring forward jobs, investment and housing”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “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.”

Harry Rodd