What does a combined authority do?

A combined authority (CA) is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take /collective decisions across council boundaries. It is far more robust than an informal partnership or even a joint committee.

How many combined authorities are there in England?

9 combined authorities
There are currently 9 combined authorities in England; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough– Mayor James Palmer. Greater Manchester Combined Authority– Mayor Andy Burnham.

How many mayoral combined authorities are there?

six mayoral combined authorities
As at July 2017, there are six mayoral combined authorities with devolution deals. They vary in the extent to which their boundaries match with those of other service providers, as well as Local Enterprise Partnerships, and in the extent of the devolution deals they have struck with the government.

What is a devolved authority?

Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level, such as a regional or local level. Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area, thus granting them a higher level of autonomy.

How are combined authorities established in the UK?

CAs are formally established by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government through a Parliamentary Order following the request or consent of the councils concerned. There are two types of combined authority: those with a mayor for the area covered by the CA and those which do not have a mayor.

When does the Combined Authority white paper come out?

The white paper has been delayed and is now expected in late 2021. The combined authority is a legally recognised entity, able to assume the role of an integrated transport authority and economic prosperity board.

What are the laws for combined local authorities?

The relevant legislation is the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. Combined authorities may be set up by two or more local authorities.

Can a combined authority be changed to a mayoral authority?

An existing combined authority may be changed into a mayoral combined authority via a further Order from the Secretary of State. All the member authorities must consent to this. However, the 2016 Act provides that any authorities that do not consent must be removed from the combined authority when the elected mayor is established.