Whitehall officials will be posted into mayors’ offices across the country on secondments as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham seeks to boost the power of local leaders
Whitehall officials will be posted into mayors’ offices across the country as Andy Burnham seeks to boost the power of local leaders.
Marking one month since he opened No10 North during his first week in power, the new PM brought together mayors of all political stripes on Friday. During a “virtual situation room” meeting at Downing Street’s northern outpost, he announced plans for high-performing civil servants to be seconded from government departments.
No10 said during an initial pilot – from the autumn – every mayoral authority will receive between five and 10 civil servants on a 6-9-month secondment with leaders given freedom to request the skills they need.
Last month, Mr Burnham also unveiled plans to give local leaders a slice of the Treasury’s income tax receipts from their areas to boost local projects, with details to be set out at October’s Budget.
Mr Burnham said after the meeting on Friday: “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
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh – a close ally of the PM – added: “The days of Westminster hoarding power are over. This government has kickstarted the biggest transition of power and resources in a generation, taking it from Whitehall and putting it back in the hands of local communities.”
Branded the “new situation room for growth” by government, No10 North, which is also home to the north-west base for security agency GCHQ, was set up by Mr Burnham during his first week in power.
Critics have attempted to brand the office a “gimmick”, but Downing Street has said it has also established a direct route for local leaders to raise issues with central government.
And in interview with Politico this week, Mr Burnham’s deputy-chief-of-staff at No10 North said the new department would oversee a “major transfer of powers, resources and functions” from central to local government before the next general election.
Caroline Simpson said England remains “one of the most centralised countries in the Western Hemisphere”, adding: “We have very little true devolution.”
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner added: “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.”