Cheshire and Warrington councils have requested that the area’s potential mayoral election be deferred by a year to reduce costs and increase turn out.
Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington councils are part of the Government's Devolution Priority Programme, with plans to elect the county's first mayor in May 2026.
The three councils wrote to the Government this week to request that the election is now held in May 2027.
‘Moving the election would give us more time to put in place the right foundations and approach to move forward with a devolution agreement with an elected mayor,’ the council leaders said.
They also added that holding the mayoral election in May 2027, alongside other local elections taking place in the area, would ‘reduce costs and potentially increase the number of people who will turn out to vote and have their voice heard.’