BILL Dixon has ruled himself out of the race to be the North-East’s first elected mayor as Darlington councillors officially approved a devolution deal with the government.

Concern was raised around a lack of public consultation during a cabinet meeting that saw the town's councillors agree to devolution on Tuesday, November 3.

Darlington Borough Council’s leader, Bill Dixon, asked his cabinet to approve the devolution deal while saying a lack of public consultation did not sit comfortably with him.

He said: “Because of time scales from the government, this has been set up with minimal consultation with the public and that has never sat comfortably with me.

“I apologise but we had two choices, we either got with the programme and all the benefits that it would bestow or we did not and it’s my view that the package negotiated was a good one.

“It’s not just about money but the ability to dictate to government what we need.

“This deal is focused on how we develop our economy, jobs and prosperity for the people in Tees Valley.

“I don’t want an elected mayor but if that is the price of this deal, that’s the price of it.

“It’s a fair deal even if we do get the dreaded mayor.

“People are not going to be wonderfully happy but most understand the game is worth the gamble.

“And no, I am not going to stand as elected mayor.”

Cllr Dixon reassured councillors that costs would be kept at an “absolute bare minimum” and claimed devolution would mean projects in the North-East could move faster.

He said there was no interest in transferring powers retained by the local authority to central government.

If agreed, the devolution deal would amount to £450m investment in the region across 30 years.

It comprises a package of resources and powers that would be devolved down from the government to the Tees Valley Combined Authority, set to be established in April 2016.

In return, the authority would have to adopt an elected mayor.

Heather Scott, leader of Darlington’s Conservative party, said: “None of us are very happy about the idea of an elected mayor but we need to let the public know what it means.

“The elected mayor is going to be responsible for making sure any money is distributed and spent properly.

“We don’t want to get left behind and we have to get as much power and funding into the area for the benefit of the people of Tees Valley.”