Multi-billion pound North East devolution deal consultation reaches final stages

Leaders from across the North East have issued their thanks to everyone who has taken part in a consultation into a £4.2bn devolution deal for the region.

A public consultation launched in January inviting residents, businesses and anyone else in the region to submit their views on the historic deal. People have been taking part in the eight-week consultation, which closes on March 23, including attending a series of events to have taken place in each council area.

The seven local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland reached an agreement with Government to transfer significant powers and the “huge” investment to the North East from London.

In a joint statement, leaders commented: “Across the region we have been impressed by how engaged the public and businesses have been. As Leaders across seven areas we have collaborated to get the deal, that the government is ‘minded to’ agree, and our experiences during the consultation have shown many people getting behind the plans too.

“Colleagues in education, the business world and the voluntary sector can see the huge potential for our region. This is an enormous opportunity to have a significantly improved say on how money is spent and how decisions are made for the benefit of the two million people and thousands of businesses in our region.

“Through this deal, the North East will benefit from billions of pounds of investment, and have authority over key decisions around transport, skills, housing, finance and economic development.

“We have also agreed a seat at the negotiating table for deeper devolution through a ‘trailblazer’ agreement, which would provide a further jobs and investment boost to the region.

“It is important to us that anyone who lives or works here is able to share their views. Our thanks go to everyone who has provided their feedback, and we would remind anyone who has not yet responded to do so before the consultation closes.”

The deal was announced in December 2022, with the consultation launched weeks later. Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, later joined the cross-party group of leaders and mayors at a ceremony at The Baltic in Gateshead to sign the agreement.

The £4.2bn investment package is expected to create 24,000 extra jobs, deliver 70,000 courses per year to give people the skills to get good jobs, and leverage £5 billion of private sector investment.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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