How can 'civil society' actors influence local devolution? The case of Greater Manchester

The delivery of devolution to Greater Manchester has created a variety of tensions as well as opportunities for civil society actors as they have had to wrangle with new governmental structures. This reflects the broader framing of UK devolution to city-regions. To date, this has been largely focused upon engendering agglomerated economic growth at the city-region scale. Within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), devolution for economic development has sat alongside the devolution of health and social care as well (unlike any other city-region in the UK). This has in effect mobilised civil society actors in Greater Manchester to find ways collectively to exert influence upon the type and style of devolution taking place.