VOTERS in Sunderland are being asked their views on North-East devolution.

The leaders of seven North-East councils, covering County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, signed a devolution agreement with Chancellor George Osborne in October.

The offer is now being considered by the local authorities and Sunderland City Council wants to know what its residents think.

All households in the area are being sent a survey from today (Monday, February 1) and people can also respond online, at sunderland.gov.uk/devolution. The deadline for doing so is Wednesday, February 17.

The North-East devolution deal offers powers over transport, skills, the economy and housing plus a £30m-a-year investment fund to a regional mayor elected in May 2017.

There is a similar offer, with a £15m-a-year investment fund, on the table for the Tees Valley.

Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson said: “This is a really important decision for the city and residents have a vital role to play in helping us decide where we go from here.

“So we’d encourage people to take the time to complete the short questionnaire we’ve posted online.”

Durham County Council is also consulting its residents on the proposals. The deadline for responses to its survey is Monday, February 8.

Northumberland’s consultation with its residents closed in mid-January.

The seven councils will take final decisions on whether to support the proposals in the coming weeks.

In a ballot online at thenorthernecho.co.uk, asked “Do you think the North-East and Tees Valley should accept the government’s proposals?”, 54 per cent of respondents said no.