Somerset residents are expected to elect their first Wessex mayor in May 2028 after the government backed plans to bring more powers and investment to the region.

The proposed authority would cover Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with responsibilities spanning transport, housing, skills and economic growth.

The announcement could change how decisions affecting Glastonbury, Street, Wells and Shepton Mallet are made, with regional leaders seeking greater control over money currently directed from Westminster.

However, the agreement has not yet completed the formal process. Budget documents published on Wednesday, 28 October said the government was in the final stages of agreeing ten new devolution arrangements, with final details subject to agreement with local areas.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans told a council meeting that afternoon that he expected the new authority to be established next year, ahead of an election in May 2028.

He said: "We had confirmation from Jim McMahon MP yesterday [October 27] that the Wessex devolution proposal is going ahead, subject to consultation and a formal government announcement.

"The expectation is that the local authority will be set up next year and that mayoral elections for the new mayor of Wessex will take place in May 2028.

"This is incredibly good news for this region. It will bring in significant inward investment."

Cllr Revans has previously estimated that a deal could bring an additional £460 million to the region each year. That remains his estimate rather than a confirmed annual funding settlement announced in the Budget.

The Wessex Partnership brings together four existing unitary councils. Its supporters argue that working across a larger area would allow them to secure investment and coordinate decisions on infrastructure, training and development.

In a joint statement, Cllr Revans and fellow council leaders Millie Earl, Nick Ireland and Ian Thorn welcomed the government's support.

They said the proposed deal could help improve transport connections, support town centres, create better-paid jobs and expand access to training. They also argued that decisions about the region's future should be shaped within Wessex.

Somerset's Conservative opposition leader Diogo Rodrigues offered qualified support, saying additional investment would be welcome but questioning whether another layer of government would deliver improvements.

He said: "I have reservations about whether creating yet another layer of bureaucracy will deliver any real benefits for the people of Somerset.

"However, if devolution means bringing investment and additional funding into our county, then I am prepared to support it.

"What matters to me is that Somerset gets its fair share of funding and that any new authority delivers genuine improvements for our residents and businesses, rather than simply creating more politicians and bureaucracy.

"My greater concern is who will be running it. After four and a half years in charge, the Liberal Democrats have made a complete mess of Somerset Council.

"Our finances are in a desperate state, independent inspectors have highlighted serious failings, and residents are paying substantially more in council tax while receiving poorer services.

"Next year's local elections will give residents the opportunity to elect a Conservative-run council that can get a grip on Somerset's finances and provide the leadership needed to build a strong, focused Wessex authority that delivers good outcomes for Somerset."

The proposed regional mayoral election would be separate from Somerset Council's local elections in May 2027. Consultation and the formal arrangements for establishing the Wessex authority are still to follow.

Reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS

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