Delay in asking for a NE Mayor only explained by a power struggle in North East 7 County Councils

The Journal Report today makes very depressing reading: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/north-east-mayor-dispute-rumbles-9619494
The harsh reality is that whilst the North East squabbles the Labour led Local Authorities of Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Liverpool and elsewhere are pressing ahead and embracing the governments offer of devolution. Let us be clear: all the North East businesses, the LEP, NECC, and a multitude of other organisations see the force in uniting transport, health, and a large number of regional services, in an integrated manner, under the ultimate control of a directly elected Mayor. This model has worked well in London [imposed on London without a referendum, by a former Labour government] and worldwide in Germany and elsewhere. The Manchester example is genuinely amazing.


The only objectors are some or all of the 7 Local Authority county council leaders. Why?
There are only two possible explanations:
-either they wish to preserve their own fiefdoms and fear that someone from Gateshead, Sunderland or Newcastle might be in charge [please delete as applicable according to who your sworn enemy is] with the result that the Mayor will not favour them / feather their nest as only they can.
- or they do not have aspirations for the wider North East? I cannot believe that this is the case, because surely they accept that we are better together as a larger unit, competing as we are on the global scale and other larger regions. Certainly this is the view of the Local Enterprise Partnership and the North East Chamber of Commerce etc etc.
Is this is a power struggle amongst the 7 Local Authority leaders? I do not know. But it smacks of the old story of "if Newcastle gets this then Sunderland must get a bridge". This attitude is genuinely holding us back. I urge everyone to write to their local Chief Executive making the case for unity, for a Mayor, for greater devolution and greater jobs and prosperity.
In the last parliament we started this process with City and County deals, which many of our areas received and prospered with, including Newcastle and Sunderland. But surely we want to be bigger and better. Have we not moved on now? Are we going to go backwards? I see the only justification given from Simon Henig and Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, is that Cornwall is being given a County deal and that this is should be used as ammunition to argue that the North East shouldn’t be pressured into having a mayor. So now the North East wants 7 separate County Councils like Cornwall with a City Deal / County Deal - which we already have? Words fail me. The great North East wants to be Cornwall? Is this the highpoint of the 7 Counties collective aspirations?
I believe we are Better Together.
I believe there are genuine opportunities ahead
I am certain that we will be left behind by Scotland, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester without a Mayor


I know some Labour MPs have their head in their hands over the behaviour of the Labour Council leaders, but whilst the train is leaving the station, it is not too late to jump on board. Do the right thing. I appreciate that this will be a big step, as there is a lot of history here but the end more than justifies the personal compromises and the need for trust between the 7 leaders. And I say this as the most rural of all the MPs who would be so affected. I have faith this is good for rural Hexham.


The North East Combined Authority is meeting next week on the 14th July in Morpeth at 2pm in the County Council. I urge anyone to go along and make the case to them. I will be stuck in parliament. Details are here:  http://www.northeastca.gov.uk/who-are-we

£370 Million to the North East from Government as Local Growth Deal kicks in

Who says government does not lkisten to a strong business case - see the 2 Labour Leaders comments below. The simple point is that the cooperation between government, LEP and local leaders is working.

The cash is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs by supporting business and improving the region’s transport infrastructure. Communities Minister, Brandon Lewis, MP, who visited the Hitachi site in Newton Aycliffe and Sunderland University, as well as Newcastle city centre, said: “This is a really big sum of money and it is going to open up some big opportunities. It has been designed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) and I think that it is designed locally is something which is really important about the Growth Deals.”

He added: “The Government has been very focused on making sure that growth is spread around the country and the North East has some huge opportunities, with the software, renewable energy and high-tech engineering industries here. When you see the investment that Hitachi is making, you realise how big the opportunities are. There is a good balance of trade here and the North East absolutely is an important part of the British economy.”

As previously reported by the Journal, the money will be used for a string of key projects.

Some of the cash
- will fund a direct link from Newcastle Central station to the Stephenson Quarter regeneration site
- and refurbishment of Newcastle Central Metro Station.
- Durham City will also benefit from £6.3m towards the proposed Western Relief Road.

Leader of Newcastle City Council, Coun Nick Forbes, who has responsibility for transport issues on the NELEP board, said: “North East councils have presented a compelling case to Government for greater transport investment which is reflected in today’s announcement.

“It underlines the benefits of working together in the interests of the wider region. This investment is an encouraging start towards our goal of improving our strategic transport network, and improving connectivity across our region.”

The cash will also see new business parks created, including space for firms in the Hitachi Rail supply chain at Merchant Park in County Durham and money to develop land at the former Swans Hunter shipyard, in Wallsend.

The North East Technology Park (NETPark), in County Durham, is to have an £8m expansion and £7.4m was handed to the Centre for Process Innovation’s proposed £14.4m Centre for Innovation in Formulation.

Coun Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The funding announcements are fantastic news for the residents and businesses of Country Durham which will make a hugely positive difference to job prospects and the overall economy.”

He added: “In NETPark, County Durham already boasts a leading science, engineering and technology park. The expansion is expected to generate further investment of over £200m in the next ten years, creating 2,400 high value jobs. The proposed relief road around Durham City will reduce traffic resulting in quicker and easier journeys for hundreds of people every day. Less traffic passing through the city will also make it easier for those travelling to it, boosting both business and tourism and enhancing the city further as the economic powerhouse of the county. We are delighted that the strong case we put forward for County Durham as a place to invest in for the future has been backed by the Government and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.”

Full details here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/370m-local-growth-fund-open-7384904