"High-performing" civil servants will be seconded into mayoral authorities from this autumn, the prime minister has announced.
Civil servants will be seconded into mayoral authorities to “build capability and capacity and accelerate the transfer of power to local areas” as part of the PM Andy Burnham’s plan to “shift power, funding and accountability from Whitehall to local leaders”.
The initial pilot will see every mayoral authority receive between five and ten civil servants on a six–to-nine-month secondment.
“The teams will provide the skills and expertise needed to support a once-in-a-generation devolution settlement,” No.10 said.
Mayors will be given the freedom to request the type of skills they need.
Eighteen mayoral strategic authorities are expected to be included in the initial secondment programme, with two further strategic authorities currently forming that could benefit in future.
The announcement comes after Burnham last month announced a new wave of devolution that will give greater powers for housing, transport and skills to regional mayors.
No.10 has also today announced an expansion of the Future Leaders Scheme, the civil service programme to develop high potential individuals, to mayoral and local authority officials.
The cross-government development scheme, until now only for high-potential grade 6 and 7 civil servants, provides a leadership development curriculum which supports officials in accelerating their development as well as learning more about their personal leadership effectiveness.
The plans were announced after the PM today convened mayors from across England for the first No.10 North “virtual situation room”.
No.10 also announced that a new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot will be launched 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”.
Applications will launch alongside the next intake in October, with successful candidates starting in September 2027.
In a further announcement, No.10 said a digital devolution programme will be launched to “unlock government data and build AI, digital and data capability in mayoral authorities”.
It said this 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”.
No.10 said the package of reforms 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 closer partnership with government”.
Announcing the plans, 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.”
First secretary of state Louise Haigh 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.”
Government 'has duty to be a good employer' – union boss raises concerns in response to announcement
FDA general secretary Dave Penman has raised concerns about the manner of today's announcements.
Commenting on X, Penman said: "Quotes from senior No.10 figures and anonymous briefings about ‘uncomfortable’ headcount cuts raises significant questions not only over the number of civil servants involved, but the location and potentially compulsory change of employer. Without the forthcoming white paper, the lack of detail and language used will only cause uncertainty.
"The government is entitled to change the way the country is governed, but it also has a duty to be a good employer. Not just because that’s what any government should aspire to, but because effective management of the workforce delivering that change will result in better outcomes for the public they serve."