Warrington and Cheshire devolution deal 'must be right' - report

Negotiations remain ongoing with the Government

A lucrative devolution deal for three boroughs in the north west of England "must be right" before it is agreed, a report has said.

Warrington Borough Council's Labour group voted in 2017 for the town to team up with two other Cheshire councils to seek devolved powers.

Discussions with the government over a "county deal" have taken place, but there is yet to be an agreement.

The report will come before councillors at a committee meeting next month.

A deal could be reportedly worth at least £30m a year to the county.

Any arrangement would see the government delegate major powers to Warrington, Cheshire East, and Chester and Cheshire West councils, and could see additional funding for between 10 and 25 years, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Fixed menu approach'

A update on the negotiations will come before Warrington's Supporting the Local Economy policy committee on 3 April.

A report published ahead of the meeting said: "Any devolution deal must be right for Cheshire and Warrington. It needs to not only accurately reflect the economic geography but the specific characteristics of its economy."

Describing Cheshire and Warrington as "a hotbed of science, technology and manufacturing innovation", the report said a deal "must reflect these characteristics".

It added: "To date the government, whilst engaging with Cheshire and Warrington, have offered a somewhat 'fixed menu' approach, which inevitably does not enable Cheshire and Warrington to achieve its full economic and environmental potential."

The committee is recommended to note the contents of this report.