Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) (“the 2009 Act”) provides for the establishment of combined authorities for the areas of two or more local authorities in England. Combined authorities are bodies corporate which may be given power to exercise specified functions of a local authority under sections 104, 105 and 105A of the 2009 Act, and power to exercise specified functions of any other public authority under section 16 of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1).