Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Yvonne Harrison 

Items
No. Item

CAB2/22

To Receive any Declarations of Interest and Notification of any Dispensations Granted

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

 

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

 

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest or dispensations were reported.

 

CAB3/22

North East Devolution pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To consider a report on the next steps following the HM Government announcement in December 2022 on a “minded to” North East Devolution deal. (Interim report)

 

A supplemental (Main report) setting out the findings of a statutory review regarding the proposed governance changes associated with the establishment of any new combined authority and the finalised consultation and other documents will be circulated to all members of Cabinet as soon as possible after the consultation documents are complete.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report on North East Devolution following an announcementmade on 28 December 2022 by HM Government that a “Minded To” devolution deal with the seven Councils across the North East (i.e. Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils) had been agreed, subject to ratification.

 

The deal if implemented would see a significant shift of powers, funding and responsibility which would enable the Councils to pursue their ambitions for inclusive growth.  In total, it would provide £4.2 billion of additional investment to the region over 30 years, including a £1.4bn investment fund alongside significant funding for transport, education and skills, housing and regeneration.  This would enable investment into projects which reflected local needs and opportunities, making a real difference for our residents, communities, and the local economy.

 

To implement the deal, the Councils would need to establish that a new Mayoral Combined Authority which covered the area of the seven Councils and would replace the two existing combined authorities in the region would improve the exercise of the statutory functions in the region. The finding of the governance review was that there would be such an improvement.

 

A report setting out the findings of the governance review was attached at Appendix 1 with Annex A – “Minded to” devolution deal, and Annex B – Draft Scheme for publication consultation. The governance review found a strong rationale to build on existing collaboration, delivery and success by creating a new Mayoral Combined Authority.

 

The key elements of the “minded to” devolution deal were summarised in Section 1.5.3 of the report under the following headings: ‘Bigger and better; Reduced carbon, reduced inequality; Bold on the rural economy; Amplifying the North East’s global assets; Balancing growth and prevention; Transforming connectivity; Attacking the opportunities of digital and 5G; Connecting our coastal areas; and Building on strong collaborative governance’.

 

The “minded to” deal represented a significant step towards securing important decision-making powers and investment for region. The new Mayoral Combined Authority would also be able to make decisions that reflected local needs and invest into projects that would make a difference for all residents, communities and local economy. Furthermore, if the Councils were to agree to progress the “minded to” deal, it could be the first step in a process of further devolution, and the North East could deepen its devolution arrangements over time. 

 

It was proposed that the government and North East would commence negotiations on trailblazer provisions which would deepen and enhance the powers in the deal, in early 2023, drawing on the arrangements in Greater Manchester and West Midlands, with a view to these powers being in place as soon as possible after the first mayoral election in May 2024.  The government would also continue to work with the North East on important areas of public services reform and infrastructure investment, to support inclusive economic growth in towns, cities and rural areas whilst tackling climate change, on the journey to 2030.

 

If the deal was supported  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB3/22

CAB4/22

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Monday 23 January 2023 at 6.00pm.

Minutes:

6.00pm on Monday 23 January 2023 (Ordinary meeting)

6.00pm on Monday 30 January 2023 (Extraordinary meeting)