Cheshire devolution: what happens next?

A new combined authority is set to cover the three council areas

All three councils in Cheshire have now backed plans to create a new combined authority - the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.

But what does it mean for people living in the county, and what differences will it make to their lives?

September 2025: Council approval

Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Warrington Council all had to seek approval at full council meetings to establish a combined authority.

Cheshire West and Council did this on 9 September with final approval by the cabinet the next day.

For Warrington Council, it was backed at full council on 15 September and then given approval by cabinet on Tuesday.

Cheshire East Council - which does not have a cabinet system - signed off the plans at a full council meeting on 17 September.

The government is now set to release a £1m grant to pay for setting up the combined authority.

Despite all three councils approving the plans, the government must add a few finishing touches.

Late 2025 - early 2026: Government orders

The UK government will have to lay an order before both Houses of Parliament. The exact wording of this order - the Cheshire and Warrington Mayoral Combined Authority 2026 - must remain confidential until it is laid before Parliament.

It is expected to confirm the date of the first mayoral election, the new combined authority's governance, and how it will make decisions.

Early 2026: Combined authority comes into being

Under existing legislation, the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority would be operational and receive powers and funding from Whitehall.

This could come as soon as February 2026, but a number of staffing and scrutiny arrangements would need to be in place for this to happen.

Some of the powers the new combined authority would receive at its inception would include becoming Cheshire's transport authority and assuming responsibility for economic development.

There would be a one-year transition period for the changes to transport responsibilities.

The three councils will remain responsible for roads in their respective area.

Mid-2026: Devolution bill

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is expected to become legislation midway through 2026 after it completes the Parliamentary process.

This bill aims to extend devolution across England.

Cheshire and Warrington would become a Mayoral Strategic Authority and receive additional powers as part of it.

May 2027: First mayoral election

Cheshire and Warrington was due to elect its first mayor in May 2026, but after concerns from local leaders this was pushed back by 12 months.

This will also coincide with full council elections in Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils' areas.

The mayor's term would officially begin four days after the election.

2027/2028 financial year: Precept could come in

The 2027/28 financial year would be the first year in which the mayor could set a precept to be included in council tax bills.

Not all mayors in England have chosen to set precepts, but the mayors of the Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region are among those that have.

Will there be changes to the councils in Cheshire?

As part of devolution, there will be no changes to the existing way the three councils operate.

Some areas are seeing local government reorganisation, but not in Cheshire.

Creating a combined authority does not involve council mergers or the redrawing of local authority boundaries.

Instead, the three authorities will work together on decisions which impact the entire county.