Devolution could be the key to unlocking the economic potential of the Cheshire and Warrington region and helping it compete with Manchester and Liverpool, a council leader has said.
The area is part of the government's devolution priority programme, with a public consultation concluding last month. The plan would see the creation of a new combined authority covering Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester and Warrington, led by an elected mayor.
Nick Mannion, the Labour leader of Cheshire East Council, believes that devolution would bring significant benefits to the region. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Mannion explained: "Devolution is exactly what it says.
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"At the moment, money that is spent in our sub-region is decided upon in Whitehall. That money would, under devolution, be decided upon in Cheshire and Warrington."
Cllr Mannion cited improved decision-making, targeted funding, service creation and delivery as some of the benefits seen in areas with devolved authorities.
He also highlighted Greater Manchester as England's fastest-growing region economically, and said: "You speak to any business leader in Greater Manchester and, at the top of their list, they say it's because they have a devolved mayoral authority that can make the right decisions and make those decisions quickly, and implement them quickly and effectively.
"One of the challenges we've got is that, because we're sat next door to Liverpool and Manchester.
"When investors come to the North West they see Andy Burnham [Greater Manchester mayor], they see Steve Rotheram [mayor of Liverpool City Region] and they think they've done the North West.
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"We are missing out."
Cllr Mannion said the benefits would stretch beyond business to the wider workforce, and added: "We've got to make sure we've got a local workforce who are in a position to take advantage of those jobs.
"Cheshire and Warrington have consistently had a little more than 100,000 people who are of working age who are not economically active for the last decade.
"We think we can make a dint in that because we know the best way to provide into work training through skills and knowledge than civil servants can based in Whitehall, and that has been proven in several devolved authorities around the country already."
The leader said additional benefits could include an improved transport network and a boost for the rural economy.
Asked about the recent 'best value' inspection report on Warrington Borough Council, Cllr Mannion told the LDRS: "Whilst obviously Warrington's situation is one for them to work through, it's not a problem for the devolved authority. That's my understanding.
The Conservatives on Cheshire East council have repeatedly said they are concerned the pace of devolution is too rapid and lacks sufficient detail.
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In an interview, the newly appointed Conservative group leader, Stewart Gardiner, told the LDRS: "There are people [in the Conservative group] who don't like it and there are people who are supportive, but generally we're concerned we're being to ask to sign up to something where we don't have the details.
"Until we know what we're saying yes to, we can't say yes. The people that we represent would be a bit concerned if we just said yes."
Cllr Mannion noted: "A lot of the ground work has been done through Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Partnership, through the three authorities working together."
Should the devolution move forward, the elections for the first mayor of the combined authority are scheduled for May 2026.