Greater Manchester agrees to Combined Authority

All 10 Greater Manchester local authorities have today 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 and to oversee the performance of the new devolved powers in 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.

Lord Peter Smith, Chairman of AGMA 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.

“This is about growth, it is about jobs, it is about investment and it is about our City Region speaking with a strong, united voice.

“Today’s agreement marks the end of a process which has been rightfully subjected to rigorous scrutiny by all 10 Greater Manchester authorities. It demonstrates the commitment of all of us – whatever our political hue – to put the common interests of our communities first.”

The submission for the creation of the combined authority will now go to the Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Transport and, if approved by Ministers, will then together with a draft order be subject to a 12-week consultation. AGMA has requested that the new authority should be created as from 1 April, 2011.