Guidance

Council of the Nations and Regions: Terms of Reference

Published 17 October 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-of-the-nations-and-regions-terms-of-reference/council-of-the-nations-and-regions-terms-of-reference

1. Purpose

The Council is designed to facilitate partnership working between the UK Government, Devolved Governments, the Mayor of London, and Mayors of Combined Authorities and Mayors of Combined County Authorities. It will be a central driving forum that brings together governments and authorities with devolved responsibilities to determine actions for tackling some of the biggest and most cross-cutting challenges the country faces, on a structured and sustained basis.

2. Objectives

The Council will:

  • provide regular, sustained, engagement to ensure that governments and authorities with devolved responsibilities are working together to deliver on people’s priorities across the UK, ensuring the voices of the nations and regions are brought to bear on issues affecting the whole country.
  • facilitate collaboration and consider shared opportunities on cross-cutting challenges, identifying barriers that can be unblocked.
  • share lessons and best practice on approaches being taken across the UK.

3. Membership

The Council will bring together the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the Mayor of London, the Mayors of Combined Authorities, and the Mayors of Combined County Authorities. The Deputy Prime Minister (responsible for Local Government and English Devolution) and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations) will also attend (see Annex). Additional UK Government and Devolved Government ministers may be invited to attend the Council when agenda items fall within the scope of their policy portfolios. Other attendees, such as external stakeholders, may be invited to attend the Council on an ad hoc basis, depending on the agenda.

4. Timing

The Council will meet biannually, with the first meeting held in October 2024.

5. Format

The Prime Minister will chair the Council, which will be hosted at different locations around the UK. Members will be encouraged to attend in person though a virtual facility will be available on an exceptional basis.

Meetings of the Council of the Nations and Regions will work alongside existing and planned engagement between the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Devolved Governments, and engagement between the Deputy Prime Minister and the Mayor of London, the Mayors of Combined Authorities, and the Mayors of the Combined County Authorities.  

6. Scope

The Council will focus on shared missions, delivery of public services, and shared values. It will provide a forum to share best practice, to collaborate on shared issues, and agree how to work together to drive delivery on areas of mutual priority.

7. Logistics

The Council will have a standing secretariat of UK Government officials who will work closely with representatives of attendees to plan and deliver meetings. The Secretariat will also share a readout following Council meetings and track any agreed actions.

A delivery group for the Council of the Nations and Regions will be established to support this work. Further subgroups at official level may be established, if needed. These meetings will be held virtually.

8. Full membership

The Council is made up of:

  • the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP
  • the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP
  • the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, the Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP
  • the First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon John Swinney MSP
  • the First Minister of Wales, the Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Ely MS
  • the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill MLA
  • the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly MLA
  • the Mayor of London, the Rt Hon Sadiq Khan
  • the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson
  • the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward
  • the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham
  • the Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram
  • the Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness
  • the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard
  • the Mayor of Tees Valley, the Rt Hon the Lord Houchen of High Leven
  • the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker
  • the Mayor of the West of England, Dan Norris
  • the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin
  • the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith
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