PRESS RELEASE : North East Devolution Deal – CCN Response [December 2022]

The press release issued by the County Councils Network on 28 December 2022.

Today the Secretary of State, Michael Gove announced a historic devolution deal for North East that will see a new elected mayor given fresh money and powers to level up region with a £1.4 billion investment fund. You can read more on the deal here.

In response to the announcement, Simon Edwards, CCN Chief Executive said; 

“CCN welcomes today’s announcement of a new North-East Mayoral Combined Authority, to come into force in 2024, and covering the unitary County Councils of Durham and Northumberland alongside the local authorities in City of Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

“The Deal, which will see a directly elected mayor for the North-East, comes with a multi-million, multi-year investment fund of £1.4bn – £48m every year for 30 years – alongside new powers and funding for skills, transport, housing and regeneration.

“CCN has long called for the Government to go faster and further to bring forward and deepen the benefits of devolution.  The scale of the economic challenges facing the nation – inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and a looming recession – means that we must pull out all the stops to boost the economy, with an unrelenting focus on productivity and facilitating private sector growth. And to achieve those aims the solutions will need to be local, bespoke and led by local government.

“Today’s announcement follows devolution deals agreed with Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cornwall earlier this year – historic and landmark developments, not just for counties, but the sector as a whole.

“And as we begin a New Year, CCN will be working closely with those other County and Unitary Authorities aiming to conclude their devolution deals, as well continuing to work with our members and Government to identify and support a second wave of such deals.

“Ultimately, we want to see at least two-thirds of our member councils agree deals with Government by the end of the Parliament. This is an ambitious target, but one that will bring benefits to millions of residents and businesses, if we are – collectively – successful.”