by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The four councils which make up the Wessex Partnership are urging ministers to allow the area to move forward and hold mayoral elections in 2027.
The statement came after a debate on devolution at Dorset Council on Thursday evening.
In a joint statement, council leaders Cllr Nick Ireland (Dorset), Cllr Bill Revans (Somerset), Cllr Ian Thorn (Wiltshire) and Cllr Millie Earl (BCP) said:
“The Devolution Priority Programme is being delayed in Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent and Sussex & Brighton to allow more time for Local Government Reorganisation.
“Our four authorities in the Wessex Partnership have already gone through Local Government Reorganisation. We are ready to go now.
“We call on the government to allow Wessex to take their place and hold mayoral elections in 2027, in line with mayoral elections for the other fully unitary areas of Cumbria and Cheshire & Warrington.”
All councils in Wessex are already unitary authorities, having been through the Local Government Reorganisation process so are well-placed to deliver devolution and support the Government’s growth priorities.
In July, Wessex leaders confirmed their commitment to joint projects including:
- A regional growth plan
- Infrastructure investment proposals
- A Wessex Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The English Devolution White Paper set out plans for enhanced funding tied to mayoral devolution. With nearly 80% of England expected to be covered by Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Wessex risks being left behind, according to the councils, although some oppose the plans altogether saying they will just add an extra layer of Government, with additional costs.
All four councils have undertaken analysis of the opportunity cost of Wessex being excluded from a mayoral deal to date and estimate a funding shortfall of £300.74 million in 2025/26, the equivalent of £159.29 per Wessex resident, compared to the established Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund support ends in March 2026, and the Chancellor’s recent Budget announced no new growth funding for non-mayoral areas.
The four council claims creating a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Wessex would:
- Close this funding gap
- Unlock an estimated £16 billion in additional GVA over 30 years
- Attract public and private investment in key sectors where Wessex leads nationally: defence, clean energy, digital technologies and life sciences.
