Local Government Finance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 10 April 2026 to Question 123196 on Local Government Finance, what the monetary amount is that each of those six areas will receive ahead of the mayors taking office; on what dates they will receive that funding; and whether the funding is going to (a) local councils and (b) combined authorities.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provides funding for Investment Funds (IF), Mayoral Capacity Funding (MCF) and Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) for the Devolved Priority Programme areas. For Cumbria and Cheshire & Warrington areas who have elections in 2027, they will receive a combined total of £23.5 million prior to the Mayor taking post. For Hampshire & Solent, Sussex & Brighton, Greater Essex and Norfolk & Suffolk areas with elections in 2028, they will receive a combined total of £149.6 million.
Funding is conditional on the establishment of the Strategic Authority itself. Therefore, for this year's funding Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Hampshire & Solent, and Sussex & Brighton were paid in June, whilst the remaining two areas will be paid if their institution is established.
Beyond the funds listed above, places will receive further funding for areas such as transport and adult skills ahead of Mayors taking office. Information regarding transport and adult skills will be held by those government departments. They are responsible for determining the value of those grants, and when the DPP areas are eligible to access those funds.
In most instances, the government’s intention is for funding to be given to the Strategic Authority itself. SDS funding will be paid to constituent local authorities.
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