Whitehall officials to be posted into mayors' offices as PM marks first month of No10 North

• Government departments to second officials into mayoral authorities, working with the mayor, in the largest transfer of Whitehall capacity to local leaders yet
• Mayors from across political spectrum join the first virtual meeting convened through No10 North, one month after it opened with a mission to put places at the heart of national decision-making
• New leadership, talent and data programmes to build mayoral authorities' capacity to deliver responding to priorities raised by local leaders

One month after opening No10 North, the Prime Minister today convened mayors from across England for the first No10 North "virtual situation room", announcing a major package of measures to put more Whitehall capacity behind local leaders and help unlock good growth in every postcode.

The package follows direct requests from mayors at the first meeting of the National Economic Council, held at the end of July, where local leaders called for stronger local capability, faster decision-making and a closer partnership with government.

From autumn, high-performing civil servants will be seconded into mayoral authorities to build capability and capacity and accelerate the transfer of power to local areas.

In an initial pilot, every mayoral authority will receive between five and ten civil servants on a 69-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 package also includes:

• 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 will work 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.

In its first month, No10 North has:

• Put regional mayors at the heart of national economic decision-making through the National Economic Council.
• Established a direct route for local leaders to raise barriers to growth with central government.
• Driven action to support local control of bus services in the West Midlands.
• Developed a new programme of support for mayoral authorities on skills, leadership, digital capability and growth delivery.
• Brought together departments behind a shared mission to devolve power and unlock growth across the country.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said:

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.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner said:

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.

Notes to editors

• Eighteen mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs) are expected to be included in the initial secondment programme, with two further strategic authorities currently forming that could benefit in future.
• Applications to the fast stream will launch alongside the next intake in October, with successful candidates starting in September 2027.
• The Digital Devolution programme will improve access to government data, create a common data-sharing model between Whitehall and mayoral authorities, expand AI and data skills training, and help local leaders use technology to improve public services and support economic growth.
• A strategic authority is a regional organisation that brings together a group of local councils to make decisions on issues that affect a wider area. Rather than each council tackling major challenges on its own, strategic authorities coordinate things like transport, housing, skills and economic growth across the region.
• Please find more information on this Government's first National Economic Council meeting here: No10 North open for business as the Government's new situation room for making Britain better - GOV.UK
• This package is aimed at mayoral authorities because they are taking on significant new powers. We will continue to support all local areas and are committed to extending the benefits of devolution across the country.