RESIDENTS of the Tees Valley are being invited to have their say on plans for a combined authority for the area.

The five local authorities in the valley – Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland – are canvassing views on the subject.

A package of information on proposals for the combined authority is available on the website of local enterprise partnership Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU), which includes:

• A consultation document;

• Frequently asked questions;

• A draft governance review;

• A detailed report which went to the five local authorities;

• A short video.

This sets out what the Combined Authority would do and what the local councils would continue to do.

TVU said the combined authority would focus on economic growth and the shared ambition to create 25,000 new jobs for the Tees Valley.

It said it would not recreate the former Cleveland County Council.

The consultation period runs until January 31, with a report on the outcome of the process due to be submitted to the five councils by March.

If the feedback is supportive, TVU intends to formally ask each council to approve the scheme in March, which is when the proposal would have to be submitted to the Government.

Because of the general election, due to be held in May, it is likely that no final approval for a combined authority would be forthcoming before next autumn, regardless of the outcome of the consultation.

For more information, visit teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk/