Manchester ‘super council’ to go ahead

The plans, which John Denham, the Communities secretary, said would help create a new regional ‘economic powerhouse’, were unveiled last week. They would see the creation of the Greater Manchester Combined Autho-rity which will co-ordinate work across the 10 councils which have signed up.

The combined authority will receive £375 million as part of its first local investment plan agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency. Of this, £345 million is already committed to programmes including housing market renewal and decent homes.

It would be made up of the existing members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities. They are Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. The move is designed to save money by allowing the councils to make joint decisions.

Seven cross-authority commissions will design strategies on the economy, the environment, health, improvement and efficiency, housing and planning, transport and public protection. Members will be a mix of elected members and representatives from the private and voluntary sectors and other public sector agencies.

A planning and housing commission, established as part of a city region pilot project in May 2009, will develop a spatial planning framework and housing strategy for the region. Local development frameworks will remain the responsibility of individual districts, although a single LDF could be developed in the long-term future.

The Commission will also set up a number of pilots on housing allocations, the private rented sector and the Homes and Communities Agency’s single conversation.

Launching a consultation on the super council last week, Mr Denham said: ‘This pioneering body will lead the way nationally allowing local leaders to take effective and co-ordinated control of the whole city region’s economic recovery and seize opportunities for growth as they open in the future.’

Lord Peter Smith, chair of AGMA and leader of Wigan Council, 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.’

The consultation runs until 14 July. AGMA hopes the new council will be up and running from April 2011.

AGMA has also bid for £20 million from the European regional development fund to reduce carbon emissions from homes in the area.

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