Prime Minister Andy Burnham is launching a pilot program to embed high-performing civil servants within mayoral offices in England. The initiative, set to begin in the autumn, is part of a broader effort to decentralize power from central government to local authorities.
Under the scheme, each of the 18 mayoral authorities will receive between five and 10 civil servants for a period of six to nine months. Mayors will have the ability to request civil servants with specific skill sets tailored to their needs. Burnham stated the program is designed to help communities "unleash and unlock their own potential."
The announcement followed a virtual meeting between the prime minister and local mayors. Burnham, who previously served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester for nearly a decade, has consistently advocated for devolving power away from the central government since becoming prime minister.
Expanding Devolution Measures
This initiative is part of a series of devolution deals enacted over the past decade, which have granted mayoral authorities increased control over areas such as transport and housing. Mayoral strategic authorities have been established in regions including Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire.
Further government measures include a new civil service fast stream pilot targeted at local authority roles in Yorkshire and the Humber. Applications for this program will open in October, with successful candidates expected to start in September 2027. The Future Leaders Scheme, which offers training for senior civil servants, will also be extended to include personnel from mayoral and local authorities.
A digital devolution program is also being developed to create a data-sharing model between central government and mayoral authorities. Separately, the government aims to reduce the number of civil servant roles based in London, setting a target to decrease them by 12,000. Currently, 19.6% of civil servants are located in the capital, a figure that has been declining over the past four years.
Liberal Democrat local government spokesperson Zöe Franklin MP commented on the plan, stating, "Andy Burnham is again putting metro mayoral regions first with this staffing trial. Local authorities across the board should be given the same funding and staffing opportunities if he truly wants to grow every region in England."