Published: Wednesday, 15th March 2023
Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Council Leaders have agreed a new devolution deal with the Government and it’s the most significant yet - securing much greater influence over crucial policy areas.
The Deal further embeds the role of local decision-making through additional powers, new financial freedoms and new accountability arrangements.
The Mayor and Greater Manchester Council Leaders have secured the majority of their asks in negotiations with the Government and are now focused on turning their ambitions into reality as English devolution enters a new era.
Significant breakthroughs secured in the new Trailblazer Deal include:
- the ability to create the country’s first integrated technical education city-region, so it works better for young people and employers, through a new partnership board with the Department for Education;
- more influence on regional rail services to deliver a London-style integrated public transport system - the Bee Network - by2030;
- £150m of brownfield funding and powers to underpinthe new Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter, raising standards in the social and private rented sectors; and
- a single funding settlement similar to Scotland and Wales - the first time such a flexible grant has been given to an English region.
This will be the seventh devolution deal for Greater Manchester, building on existing responsibilities over transport, business support, employment and skills support, policing, spatial planning, housing investment and health.
Welcoming the GM devolution deal, Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said:
“More powers and resources for Greater Manchester is great news for residents and businesses here in Oldham.
“A reformed and simplified education system, more closely aligned to employers' needs will be of huge benefit for Oldham’s young people as we work closer together with businesses to create pathways into good jobs, and this will particularly help with our aspirations for Atom Valley.
“We’ll also see an improvement to transport services as the funding allows for better integration of the rail network into our transport system by 2030. The extra £150m in brownfield funding will be really important for Oldhamers as it helps to deliver thousands of homes on brownfield land and protection for renters will increase as new powers underpin the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter.
“By making more decisions closer to home on the crucial issues of education, transport and housing, we can better ensure that these decisions are being made in the best interests of local people, by those who know our communities the best.
“Already, the devolution deal for Greater Manchester has meant more money flowing into Oldham, and being spent on things such as making our streets safer; improving walking and cycling routes; and supporting our local businesses.
“But more resources over a longer period of time gives Greater Manchester leaders the ability to better plan ahead and invest for the future; funding more long-term transformational projects.
“I look forward to working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and fellow council leaders to deliver real change for our people and our places.”
The deal will be subject to a statutory public consultation which will go live in the summer. It is anticipated that the new powers and budget will transfer to Greater Manchester next year.