With the chance to get millions of pounds in extra funding, Dorset Council is pushing ahead to create a new Wessex authority along with neighbouring councils, to be headed up by an elected mayor.
While the regional devolution plans in other areas of England have been delayed, Dorset Council says it is ready, along with Wiltshire, Somerset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) councils to elect a newly created mayor in 2027.
Map of the proposed Wessex area incorporating Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councils
“Rural regions like ours are left behind”
In February 2025, the government approved six areas in England where the first new mayoral strategic authorities could be created, but much to the frustration of the Wessex Partnership, it wasn’t one of them.
Setting out the case for change, prior to the full Dorset Council meeting on Thursday 4th December 2025, the leader of Dorset Council, Nick Ireland said:
“We’re ready to take control of our future – but the government is holding us back. Dorset has the ambition, expertise, and partnerships to deliver real change for our communities.
“We want decisions about transport, housing, skills, and growth made here, not in Whitehall, because local choices lead to better outcomes for residents.
“Right now, areas with mayoral devolution are getting billions in investment while rural regions like ours are left behind. If Wessex had mayoral status, we could unlock an extra £300 million every year – that’s £159 for every resident – to invest in jobs, housing, and infrastructure.
“We’re frustrated because we know what needs to be done – and we’re ready to do it. Devolution isn’t about politics; it’s about fairness and giving Dorset the tools to thrive.”
Leader of Dorset Council Nick Ireland (far left)
Delays
Now all the six areas which were meant to be the first of the new devolved authorities have announced they will delay their mayoral elections, originally planned for May 2026.
Cumbria, and Cheshire and Warrington elections are now scheduled for 2027, while Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent, and Sussex and Brighton will have to wait until 2028.
Part of the problem is that many of these areas still have district councils, and before the new combined authorities can be created, the old three tier system needs to be scrapped and replaced with two tier unitary authorities.
The creation of unitary authorities has already happened in Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, and BCP, hence some of the frustration at not being one of the first to be picked.
There was also astonishment that despite the delay to the elections in other areas, those areas were still going to get millions of extra funding, while Dorset was left sitting on the sidelines.
Rural areas like Purbeck are in desperate need of more investment for housing, transport, and jobs.
Dorset Council was created as a unitary authority in 2019 after district councils were abolished
“Can we have elections in 2027 please?”
In the council meeting, the leader of Dorset Council, Nick Ireland said that he had spoken with the leaders of the other Wessex Partnership councils this afternoon. He said:
“We’ve sent a letter to the government already, basically pointing out that we are losing out – the residents of Wessex deserve better, we want the money, we are ready to go, and can we have elections in 2027 please?”
“It’s just going to be another layer of local government”
However, in the meeting, concerns were raised about heading too quickly down the path of becoming a mayoral strategic authority.
Councillor Louie O’Leary said:
“It’s being sold that this is going to be some big, all singing, all dancing improvement but to my mind it’s just going to be another layer of local government on top of ours.
“Since 1972 every government including Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats in the coalition, have stripped away genuine local power and sovereignty from local government.
“Isn’t it about time that local government actually stood up to central government and said, actually we want to be treated fairly in discussions about what we think would be the best model to actually operate local services?”
Councillor Spencer Flower (standing on right)
“Too much power vested in one person”
Others welcomed more money to invest in local transport which the larger Wessex authority would attract, while some were sceptical about elected mayors.
Councillor Spencer Flower, who first explored the idea of creating the Wessex Partnership when he was the previous leader of the council, said:
“It was an initiation of mine, which I started three years ago, in trying to look at devolution as a principle. I was never an advocate of elected mayors – I feel that it’s too much power vested in one person.
“We’ve got a chamber of people here, we can have a cross party debate and reach decisions and I don’t think we need another layer of democracy in the process.”
Councillor Simon Clifford (far right)
“Hold our nose and take it”
In summing up the debate, councillor Simon Clifford said:
“Sometimes as a politician you have to slightly hold your nose and make a decision – I think this is one of those ones. I think many people in this room are a little bit iffy about the idea of a mayor but it is very clear the direction of travel from government.
“It’s been absolutely spelt out… No mayor and no devolved organisation means no massive investment in capital infrastructure, no big transport plans, no access to government funds for job creation and boosting our economy – for me it’s a no brainer.
“I think Dorset is in a good position. Through the leader and through previous leaders, we have negotiated well with partners and we’ve got a strong partnership. Dorset has been unfairly funded and if we are able to get access to major investment programmes which will benefit residents in Dorset, I think this is where we have to hold our nose and take it.”
Majority voted in favour
A vote was taken on continuing to pursue the creation of the Wessex mayoral strategic authority:
- For 49
- Against 6
- Abstain 11
The Wessex proposal would not mean a merger of councils but rather it’s a strategic collaboration to bring additional powers and investment to the region.
Further information
- Read the Dorset Council Wessex devolution background paper
- Watch the Dorset Council meeting discussion on devolution from 14:29
