This did turn into a reading list as well as a commentary on the webinar, but the team does have great content so please check it out, and hopefully will answer some of the many unanswered questions!

@tompope.bsky.social London operating on a different constitutional basis, means that it is easy to extend some powers but harder to extend others.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social rachet mechanism being set up- very interesting. And the devolve or explain principle - formal request to take on powers.

@milliemitchell.bsky.social our resident London expert gets a shout out (she is also an expert on MDCS and recently published a very cool paper, find it here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...)

@matthewfright.bsky.social timetable qs interesting- when will the Bill come? Once clearer on parliamentary timetable and mechanisms for reorganisation, we will know more.

Boundary alignment tricky- but government has made clear they will factor this into decision making.

Moving onto some of the audience questions

@tompope.bsky.social disappointed that tourist tax wasn't part of the EDWP offer- could be an opportunity to test fiscal devolution.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social MHCLG not worst offender of small funding pots, not clear how EDWP changes will be implemented.

@matthewfright.bsky.social now on unitarisation, which could be a 'webinar in its own right'. Questions on sequencing have been left unanswered. Wondering what unitarisation means? See www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...

@matthewfright.bsky.social describing the importance of scrutiny reforms- he's written a great comment piece on this very topic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/devo..., and I've written on it in our response to the EDWP www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/engl...

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social flagging importance of capacity. Analytical and research support so combined authority members can be more certain that the decisions are based on robust evidence and solid principles.
EDWP has good stuff on secondments and the mayoral data council, but further to go.

However, our research found that decisions rarely fell at the voting stage- consensus building behind the scenes was critical. This is likely to still be the case (South Yorkshire for example already requires simple majority + mayor for many decisions, but consensus building has still been critical)

Our project has focused on decision making and voting arrangements on the combined authority boards. EDWP has set out that voting should move to simple majority + mayor, which could remove the current veto power of individual councils over strategic decisions.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social acknowledges that I have spent the last few months reading MCA constitutions- knowledge that she describes as 'redundant but... sure it will be useful some day' after the EDWP changes

@tompope.bsky.social the focus has been on how mayors can contribute to the government's growth mission but they have roles to play in other missions.

The retrofit pilot has been made more permanent, and is now a commitment in that space.

@tompope.bsky.social duty to develop SDS underpinning local transport plans is also important, and fact mayors will get call in powers (like the mayor of London currently has).

The broad bucket of powers are correct, mayors at that strategic levels can make a set of interrelated decisions.

@tompope.bsky.social it is as much about where is getting new powers as about what those new powers are. Trailblazer agreement with GM, with an integrated pot of funding. Extending this to other mayoralties is perhaps more important than new power announcements-flexibility is important.

@matthewfright.bsky.social setting out what we mean by 'completing the map'- which he happens to have a whole report on www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...! The Devolution Priority Programme was launched in the EDWP, Matthew sets out some areas he thinks will be first on the gov's list

@akashpaun.bsky.social flags our excellent report (disclaimer, I am a co-author) where we set out how we thought the government should 'complete' English devolution www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social reflects on the mood in Westminster. Feels like it lacks a 'catchy phrase', but local government reorganisation has had a big splash. It is quite radical, with lots of positive and negative reactions. The diagnosis of the problem seems to have been welcomed.

@tompope.bsky.social was at the launch. There was good representation from the metro mayors and councillors and there was a positive mood, although maybe a feeling there wasn't anything massively new.

@akashpaun.bsky.social, @tompope.bsky.social, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @matthewfright.bsky.social are our expert panel, and for the next hour will talk through some of the themes of the English devolution white paper (EDWP). Submit, and upvote, questions you're interested in!