Mayoral Strategic Authorities – Frequently Asked Questions

What are Local Growth Plans?

Local Growth Plans are 10-year strategic frameworks developed by Strategic Authorities working with stakeholders, including local businesses, universities and Central Government, which identify ways to drive good growth and set the region’s direction over the next 10 years, for example by developing high growth clusters, attracting specialist investment and supporting the growth of industrial sectors.

What public funding is available to Strategic Authorities to support good growth?

The level of public funding available depends on the category of Strategic Authority and the functions it delivers.

The EMSAs benefit from the integrated settlement model which provides a multi-year allocation. For the period 2026 – 2030, the seven EMSAs have been allocated over £13bn. From time to time additional funds may be added to resolve particular issues.

The MSAs receive multi-year funding but this is subject to Grant Determination Letter conditions. For example, the MSA is grant funded the Brownfield Housing Fund to administer in specific areas. FSAs receive Central Government grants for subjects such as adult skills funding. All Strategic Authorities also benefit from a Local Government Finance Settlement towards their own costs.

What level of scrutiny is applied to decisions made by Mayoral Strategic Authorities?

Mayoral Strategic Authorities are required to establish Overview and Scrutiny Committees and Audit Committees. On 1 July 2026, the National Audit Office issued a report which argued that as more powers and funds are devolved, there will be a need for more robust checks and balances, to ensure that standards around the management of public money remain as high as within Central Government.

What powers do Strategic Authorities have?

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 has extended the general power of competence within the Localism Act 2011 to all Strategic Authorities. It has also created new powers depending on whether an organisation is a EMSA, MSA or FSA. For example, Section 53 of the Act sets out the ‘right to request’ under which an EMSA can request changes to the law and their funding arrangements (which are the subject of multi-year integrated funding settlements)  where this will help them deliver against their areas of competence. The first time this power was used was 16 June 2026 in regard to public procurement.

Ward Hadaway lawyers have experience of providing legal advice to the majority of Mayoral Strategic Authorities upon issues such as governance arrangements, decision making and ensuring compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. What makes our team stand out is not only our enthusiasm and expertise, but also our experience – members of our team have worked in-house within regional regeneration organisations, but have also worked within Whitehall advising Ministers and senior Civil Servants upon devolution funding, the setting up of regeneration organisations and governance arrangements.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Alexander Rose.

[1] Some MSAs have been established in advance of a Mayor being elected