Government Offices (GOs) face their biggest shake-up in more than a decade, including one-third fewer staff, as more powers are channelled through Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and ‘double devolution'.

A report from the Treasury and ODPM says GOs, set up in 1994 in each English region, need ‘a transformational change to streamline their role' in supporting the ‘devolved, decision-making framework' through LAAs. The GOs should be more strategic and supportive of local delivery and less involved with administering grants and programmes.