SI 2026/656 - The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving) Regulations 2026

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 656 (C. 54) LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, ENGLAND The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 17th June 2026 The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by

section 108(6), (8) and (9) of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026(1).

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving) Regulations 2026.

Provisions coming into force on 18th June 2026

2. The following provisions of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 come into force on 18th June 2026—

(a) section 63 (Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners: supplementary vote system), so far as it relates to the provisions listed in paragraph (b);

(b) paragraphs 12 to 19 of Schedule 30 (Mayors and PCCs: supplementary vote system).

Saving for ongoing mayoral elections

3. The amendments made by the provisions listed in regulation 2 do not apply for the purposes of—

(a) an election for the return of a combined authority mayor in accordance with Schedule 5B to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(2), or

(1) 2026 c. 23.

(2) 2009 c. 20. Schedule 5B was inserted by section 2(2) of, and Schedule 1 to, the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), and was amended by section 2(2) of the Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022 (c. 17), by section 13(12) to (15) of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 and paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to, the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37) and by S.l. 2016/997, 2021/1265.Document Generated: 2026-06-17

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

(b) an election for the return of a combined county authority mayor in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023(3), in respect of which the notice of election is published before 18th June 2026.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Samantha Dixon Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local 17th June 2026 Government

(3) 2023 c. 55.

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Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations are the first commencement regulations under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23).

Regulation 2 commences paragraphs 12 to 19 of Schedule 30 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (and section 63 of that Act, to the extent it relates to those paragraphs). Those paragraphs make amendments to Schedule 5B to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) and Schedule 2 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55) which require that elections for the return of a combined authority mayor or a combined county authority mayor respectively are to be conducted using the supplementary vote system.

Regulation 3 provides that the amendments do not apply in respect of a combined authority or combined county authority mayoral election for which the notice of election is published before 18th June 2026.

An impact assessment has been produced for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 including an Addendum on the “supplementary vote” provision. No, or no significant, impact on business, charities or the public or voluntary sector is foreseen. Copies can be obtained

at https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/63710/documents/7405 or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.

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