At the Full Council meeting on 17 September, Cheshire East councillors voted to support the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington – a significant milestone in the region’s devolution journey.
This decision follows similar votes by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Warrington Borough Council, and signals strong cross-council support for gaining greater local control over transport, housing, jobs, and investment.
Following these approvals, work will now step up to establish the new Combined Authority – which could be operational by early 2026, with the first Mayoral election in May 2027.
The proposed deal includes £650 million in government funding over 30 years, to be invested in local priorities such as improving transport links, boosting services, and supporting business growth. The proposed Mayoral Combined Authority would represent over one million residents and could be operational by early 2026, with the first Mayoral election expected in May 2027.
Creation of the Combined Authority will not mean the merger of councils – each council will remain and will continue to be responsible for providing important day-to-day services and setting/managing their own budgets.
Now that the councils have all supported devolution proposals, next steps are anticipated as follows:
Late 2025 to early 2026 – Government will lay an order before both Houses of Parliament.
Early 2026 – The Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority is established.
Mid-2026 – The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill becomes law. The Combined Authority would become a ‘Mayoral Strategic Authority’ and receive additional powers
May 2027 – Mayoral election