Councillor Richard Farnell is new Greater Manchester Combined Authority Digital City Region portfolio holder

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council

Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Council, is to take on the Digital City Region portfolio in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority cabinet.

As well as being National Vice-Chairman of Co-operative Network, Councillor Farnell has significant experience in journalism and communications

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Richard’s distinguished background in communications, along with his great connections and forward-thinking approach, means he is ideally-placed to work with our digital sector to build on the success of our city region, and turn our vision into reality.”

Councillor Farnell said: “Greater Manchester has a track record in innovation and doing things differently, from the birth of the Co-operative movement in Rochdale, to the invention of the baby computer at the University of Manchester. In the digital age, our ambition, drive and expertise means we can lead the UK and build further our thriving digital sector for the benefit of all our citizens. I look forward to working with our tech sector to drive this vital work forward.”

A summit is to be held in July that will stake out the city region’s claim to be the UK’s tech leader and will set out a bold programme of skills and infrastructure development. It will bring together Greater Manchester’s tech trailblazers and local people to shape a vision for a genuinely smart city region where technology is used as a vital part of the solution to the biggest issues we face in society.

Mayor Burnham said: “I want Greater Manchester to be a digital city with a difference – one with a bold digital economy which actively encourages businesses to invest and grow, and also one where technology is used to deliver positive change, from connecting young people with opportunities, to tackling social problems such as homelessness. This bold vision places the needs of people firmly at the heart of technological innovation.

“We’re already ahead of the game on this. Right here in Greater Manchester we are on the digital frontier with some of the most cutting-edge tech firms in the world. This gives us a remarkable opportunity to take that expertise and innovation, and work with local people to create a smart digital future which has a unique Greater Manchester stamp.

“We want to fuse technological advancement with culture, ethics, communities and places to build a world which is connected, creative and cooperative, and a modern and prosperous Greater Manchester where no-one is left behind.

“I don’t want Greater Manchester to be just a smart city – I want it to be the smartest city.”

The summit will be held on 6 July at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.