Jim McMahon<br />Jim McMahon<br />Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon speaking during a visit to Southampton on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Picture: LDRS<br /><br />Jim McMahon<br />Jim McMahon<br />Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon speaking during a visit to Southampton on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Picture: LDRS<br /><br />Jim McMahon on devolution<br />Jim McMahon on devolution<br />Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon discusses some of the key talking points of proposals for the Hampshire and Solent region<br /><br />The government “embraces” elected mayors having a big set of responsibilities, a minister has said.<br /><br />Concerns have been raised that the proposed structure for devolution in Hampshire and the Solent will give too much control to a single person.<br /><br />As part of the government’s devolution priority programme, a new mayoral combined county authority (MCCA) for the region is set to be created, with the first election taking place in May 2026.<br /><br />The mayor is likely to have responsibility for areas such as skills, transport and strategic planning.<br /><br />Funding arrangements are yet to be set out but powers will be transferred down from Westminster.<br /><br />Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon visited Southampton this week to promote the ongoing public consultation on the plans, which closes on April 13.
