North East Devolution
North East devolution consultation
An eight-week consultation in early 2023 asked residents, businesses and other stakeholders to give their views on the proposed scheme - the document that sets out how devolution would be implemented.
Who was consulted
The consultation involved:
- an online survey inviting people to comment on the proposed deal
- 15 in-person events across the region for members of the public to hear about the plans
- 9 briefings aimed at key stakeholders from different sectors
A total of 3,235 individuals and organisations from across the region took part in the consultation process.
What you said
Respondents welcomed the proposed increase in regional power, a greater profile for the North East, and closer working arrangements among key organisations.
Participants were asked to consider five key areas around the proposals, and in all instances, the majority of respondents agreed with the plans.
These were governance of the proposed North East Mayoral Combined Authority (61% of people across the North East agreed) as well as its plans around transport (67%), housing and planning (60%), finance and investment (53%), and skills, employment and adult education (65%).
View the findings of the consultation at:
North East Devolution Consultation Report
Feedback from South Tyneside based respondents can also be viewed at:
South Tyneside Devolution Consultation Report
What happens next
A summary of the consultation findings will now be presented to the respective Cabinets of each of the seven constituent local authorities and two combined authorities.
North East Devolution Cabinet Report
Should all agree to proceed with the plans the findings will be presented to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to consider before laying an order in Parliament to establish the new combined authority.
Subject to these steps, it is expected that an election to appoint a new mayor would take place in May 2024, at which point the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority would come into effect.