Local authorities give Manchester city region the go-ahead
The ten Greater Manchester authorities struck a deal this week on the submission of a scheme to the government for the creation of a new authority.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority will co-ordinate transport, regeneration and economic development functions. It will oversee the performance of the new devolved powers in the pilot city region agreement signed by the Association of the Greater Manchester Authorities and the Regional Minister.
The arrangements will, in addition, see the establishment of a joint committee to take responsibility for delivering transport across the Manchester city region.
The submission for the new combined authority will go to the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport.
If it receives ministerial approval, the submission – together with a draft order – will be subject to a 12-week consultation. AGMA hopes to have the new authority in place from 1 April 2011.
The pilot city region status will see “a real and significant transfer of powers from central government to the city region”, AGMA said. The region will, for example, have transport powers similar to those enjoyed by Transport for London.
Lord Peter Smith, chair of AGMA and leader of Wigan Council, said: “The establishment of the new combined authority would give a strong voice to the Manchester City Region where we can work together for the economic benefit of everyone across Greater Manchester when it is in all our interests to do so.
“Today’s agreement marks the end of a process which has been rightfully subjected to rigorous scrutiny by all ten Greater Manchester authorities. It demonstrates the commitment of all of us – whatever our political hue – to put the common interests of our communities first.”
Two of the ten councils – Trafford and Stockport borough councils – at one stage abstained from a vote to recommend the new structure, amid concerns at the prospect of key issues being decided by a majority vote under the proposed governance arrangements for the city region.
