{"id":70327,"date":"2026-06-29T17:03:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=70327"},"modified":"2026-07-01T15:48:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T14:48:57","slug":"devon-ready-become-andy-burnhams-first-new-mayoralty-next-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/devon-ready-become-andy-burnhams-first-new-mayoralty-next-may\/","title":{"rendered":"Devon ready to become Andy Burnham&#8217;s first new mayoralty by next May\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Devon County Council Leader Councillor Julian Brazil says Devon is ready to be a new mayoralty\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/FOWGGhD7KSk?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Devon could be among the first areas in England to adopt a directly elected mayoral model under a new wave of devolution, with the county council\u2019s leader saying it is ready to hold elections as soon as next May.\u202f<\/strong><br>\u202f<br>Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, has written to Andy Burnham to set out how Devon could quickly deliver a mayoralty, in line with the former Manchester Mayor\u2019s ambition to accelerate devolution and support \u201cgood growth in every British postcode\u201d.\u202f<br>\u202f<br>While much of the country is already covered by mayoral combined authorities, the\u202fSouth West\u202fremains\u202fone of the few regions without one. Mayoral areas\u202fbenefit\u202ffrom\u202fadditional\u202ffunding and greater control over key policy areas, enabling long-term planning and more locally tailored services.<br>\u202f<br>In a speech this morning, Mr Burnham outlined a 10-year vision for economic growth, improved public services and greater support for young people. His proposals included devolving powers over areas such as housing,\u202fwelfare\u202fand education from Whitehall to local leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cllr Brazil said a mayoralty would help Devon address long-standing challenges while building on its economic strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_acf-block-6a429a24ee1ad\" class=\"councillor-quote align-right dcc grid-x\">\r\n\t<blockquote class=\"councillor-quote-blockquote medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n                    <div class=\"councillor-quote-title\"><p>Councillor Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n        \t\t<div class=\"councillor-quote-text\"><p>\u201cI strongly support the ambition to extend devolution across the country, and Devon stands ready to play its part,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A mayoral model would give us the tools to build more of the right type of homes, strengthen our\u202feconomy\u202fand ensure opportunities are available to all our communities, from our cities and towns to rural and coastal areas.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are also a hub for industry,\u202fbusiness\u202fand technology. With a population of around 1.25 million, Devon has a skilled and committed workforce which can help drive economic growth.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our county plays a vital role in feeding the nation and supporting defence, a mayoral model would help us deliver the infrastructure to support those vital industries.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n        <div class=\"councillor-quote-aside medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"councillor-quote-image grid-x\">\r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"small-6 cell medium-12\" src=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/UserData\/7\/1\/1\/Info00000117\/bigpic.jpg\" alt=\"Councillor Julian Brazil\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption class=\"councillor-quote-description small-6 cell medium-12\" >\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=117\" rel=\"noopener\">Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of the Council<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n            <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cllr Brazil added that Devon is ready to work at pace with government. He has invited Mr Burnham to\u202fDevon to discuss plans and see first-hand how a mayor could be introduced swiftly.<br>\u202f<br>Mr Burnham\u2019s proposals also signalled potential reform in areas such as public services,\u202finfrastructure\u202fand business rates, alongside a focus on boosting opportunities for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cllr Brazil welcomed the direction of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Councillor Brazil added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreater local control over key decisions, support for young people into good jobs, and action to help high streets and businesses are all important priorities for Devon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDevolution offers a real opportunity to put decision-making closer to the communities it affects and to create a stronger, more resilient local economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donna Manson, Chief Executive of Devon County Council, said the authority had already begun preparatory discussions with government officials.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_acf-block-6a429a24ee2f7\" class=\"councillor-quote align-right other has-white-color has-black-background-color grid-x\">\r\n\t<blockquote class=\"councillor-quote-blockquote medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n                    <div class=\"councillor-quote-title\"><p>Donna Manson, Chief Executive of Devon County Council, said: <\/p><\/div>\r\n        \t\t<div class=\"councillor-quote-text\"><p>\u201cWe have been working with civil servants on what would be required to introduce a mayoralty in Devon,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith the right support from government, we are confident that mayoral elections could be delivered early next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n        <div class=\"councillor-quote-aside medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"councillor-quote-image grid-x\">\r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"small-6 cell medium-12\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/02\/image-2-1.png\" alt=\"Donna Manson, Chief Executive of Devon County Council\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption class=\"councillor-quote-description small-6 cell medium-12\" >\r\n            \t        Donna Manson, Chief Executive of Devon County Council            <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":70345,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[24,10,2226],"tags":[2247,961],"class_list":["post-70327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dcc-homepage","category-democracy","category-devolution","tag-cllr-julian-brazil","tag-devolution","post_format-post-format-video"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":70345,"title":"Cllr Brazil","alt":"Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, outdoors in a field with trees 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