PM to send 'high performing civil servants' into mayoral regions
High performing civil servants will be sent to work in mayoral offices as part of Government plans to transfer powers from Whitehall to regions with elected mayors.
The move is part of a package of measures announced as Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened mayors from across England for the first No10 North “virtual situation room”.
The plans are in direct response to requests made by mayors at the first meeting of the National Economic Council, held at the end of July, where local leaders called for faster decision-making and a closer partnership with government.
In an initial pilot, every mayoral authority will receive between five and ten civil servants on a 6 to 9-month secondment.
Mayors will be given the freedom to request the type of skills they need to build teams to deliver regionally relevant responses.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive, Scott Knowles, said: "The measures are another indication of how focused Government is on transferring powers out of Whitehall and into regions with mayoral authorities.
"This again highlights the differences that exist and will continue to develop between areas with an elected mayor and those without, like Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland."
The package also includes a Digital Devolution programme to unlock government data and build AI, digital and data capability in mayoral authorities and leadership fast tracking for high potential individuals working in the civil service.
Mr Burnham said: “No10 North is putting more power into every postcode across the country so communities can unleash and unlock their own potential.
“I’m bringing together Mayors from different political parties to work on these challenges, because people deserve problem-solving rather than point-scoring.”
Opposition ministers have criticised the plans, saying that the PM is prioritising mayoral authorities while moving civil servants out of the capital and that local councils should also benefit from the spread of skills.
Who we are
Devolution Leicestershire is an industry-education-VCSE coalition.
Founded in 2026, its purpose is:
- To accelerate a Devolution deal for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
- To press for fair Government funding for LLR while the Devo deal is done.
Amy Orton is Account Director for 1284 Communications. She is a board member at Menphys. Amy was previously the Local Democracy Reporter for Leicestershire. Her role was funded by the BBC to report on local government in LLR for shared use by a host of media titles.
