Levelling Up Secretary set to sign historic North East Devolution Deal

Michael Gove will be heading to the North East to meet the 7 Local Authority Leaders, and the North Of Tyne Mayor

Author: Ellie KumarPublished 27th Jan 2023

The Levelling up secretary is heading to the North East later - to sign a devolution deal, promising over a billion pounds in new funding for the region.

Michael Gove will be heading to the North East to meet the 7 Local Authority Leaders, and the North Of Tyne Mayor to sign the document later.

The Government promises the deal will bring more than £1.4 billion of funding to the region - spread over the next 30 years.

The deal also suggests councils will have greater powers over things like adult social care, transport and building affordable homes on brownfield sites.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove previously said:

"I’m proud to have agreed a historic new devolution deal with the North East that gives local leaders more power, more money, and an even greater say on how their areas are run.

"Devolution is all about letting leaders who live and breathe the region decide what is in their best interests, for their people and for their businesses.

"A new mayor will ensure local priorities in the North East are at the heart of decision-making, while our billion-pound funding boost will provide the financial certainty needed to level up the area right now and for years to come."

A local consultation on the deal will open and if approved, people across Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham will be given the power to directly elect a Mayor of the North East.

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