Devolution is the transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from national government to a particular region. The 2014 Devolution Agreement gave Greater Manchester additional powers, and new accountability through an elected Mayor. The Mayor will lead the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and will be elected in a ballot of all Greater Manchester voters on 4th May 2017.
Greater Manchester built upon the Devolution Agreement with further devolution in the Summer Budget 2015 along with additional powers in the November 2015 Spending Review and Autumn Statement. Detailed documents are available at Devolution to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and transition to a directly elected Mayor.
There was further development in the Budget of March 2016 through a fourth devolution agreement.
In summary, the Devolution Agreements currently provide for devolved powers over:
| THE ECONOMY | INFRASTRUCTURE | PUBLIC SERVICES |
| economic growth | regeneration | life chances |
| business | planning | criminal justice |
| business rates | housing | fire and rescue |
| skills and work | health and social care | |
| transport |
