Northern rule

Chancellor George Osborne visits new Metrolink line and unveils ground-breaking Government transport deal

“We are getting a Mayor – like it, or not,” says council leader Jim McMahon following news that Greater Manchester is to have an elected figurehead.

“Devolution to Greater Manchester has not arrived overnight and it has truly been a hard fought process,” added Councillor McMahon who signed the region’s devolution deal with the nine other borough chefs at Manchester Town Hall yesterday.

Chancellor George Osborne announced devolution plans to give central powers to the region, giving a new Mayor of Greater Manchester, who could be in place by 2017, control over transport, housing, planning and policy. The Mayor will also control a £300 million housing investment fund and become the region’s police and crime commissioner.

The proposals also give the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, formed in 2011, more say in business, health and social care budgets.

Councillor McMahon said: “For Greater Manchester this means more power in the hands of those who directly represent the community.

“My own view is this package of £1 billion pounds of financial devolution represents good progress. But it should really only be considered a decent starting point Over the life of the current settlement this is actually less than the budget cuts faced by Greater Manchester councils, which stand at around £1.2 billion.

“The package of new powers is also a good foundation to build on if this is genuine devolution, and not some poisoned chalice - where cuts further down the line are a sweeter pill for the Treasury to swallow because someone else now has to make the tough decisions.

“For me the move to a directly-elected mayor with responsibility for the whole city region is not an answer in itself. But if this is used to clean up a confusing and disjointed system it could give the people of Greater Manchester the ability to hold those making decisions to account.

Though welcomng the powers, Councillor McMahoni is less certain about the new political structure

“I remain unconvinced there is a public appetite for another politician, directly elected or otherwise, to take charge,” he said.

Mr Osborne, who revealed the deal while riding the new Metrolink route to Manchester Airport said: “This is a massive moment for the north of England. I have reached agreement with the civic leaders of Greater Manchester to create the first metro-wide elected mayor outside London. Giving cities power is part of our long-erm economic plan to reduce the decades-old gap between north and south.”

The Chancellor also unveiled a landmark government deal to unlock new powers over transport and investment, including cash for a £350million Metrolink line through Trafford Park and a new Oyster-card payment system.