Explanatory note

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.