All 10 Greater Manchester local authorities have agreed to submit a scheme to the Government for the creation of a new authority. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority would be established to co-ordinate transport, regeneration and economic development functions for the whole region of Greater Manchester. This new authority would work with Government to manage the new devolved powers as part of the Pilot City Region agreement which was signed last December by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities’ (AGMA) Leaders and the Regional Minister.
Under the new arrangements a Joint Committee would be established to assume responsibility for delivering transport across the Manchester City Region.
The creation of the combined authority would see a real and significant transfer of powers from central government to the City Region. Transport powers, for example, would be similar to those wielded by Transport for London.
More information about the scheme is available in a recent press release
The Department for Communities and Local Government will be consulting on the scheme and a draft order. The consultation is running for 16 weeks finishing on 14 July and is available on the following website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/proposalgreatermanchester.
