LEADERS from across the Tees Valley have gone to London to demand more powers for the district.

The council leaders made their plea to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark and Northern Powerhouse Minister, Stockton South MP James Wharton at Westminster yesterdayJULY on the same day that major new powers for Cornwall were announced.

There has been controversy because regions have been told they must have an elected mayor to be considered for extra powers but Cornwall does not have one.

The Tees Valley leaders represented five councils, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool who already work together in an organisation called Tees Valley Unlimited.

Cornwall has been granted control over money to encourage more business, privately-run bus services, and the integration of health and social services.

Chairwoman of the Shadow Tees Valley Combined Authority and Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Sue Jeffrey, said: “It is our intention to develop an exciting and ambitious devolution proposal which will enable us to make a bigger contribution to UK-wide economic success, and will also bring real benefits for our people through increased jobs, skills and shared prosperity.”

Leader of Darlington Borough Council, Councillor Bill Dixon, said: “Yesterday’s meeting was also an excellent opportunity to remind Government of the vital need to further improve our railway network so our region’s businesses can easily and quickly access national and multi-national transport links, particularly through the electrification of the York to Middlesbrough line, and on a more local level, the essential investment needed at Bank Top Station.”

Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, Christopher Akers-Belcher, said: “We are a hugely ambitious region and with greater devolved powers from London we would be able to drive forward our economic growth plan.”

Mayor of Middlesbrough, Dave Budd, said: “The Tees Valley was one of the first regions in the country to secure a multi-area agreement, establish a LEP, one of the first to get a City Deal and now we want to be one of the first to get the benefits of devolution.”

Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “The beneficial impact investments and control of decision making could have on our region’s businesses would be enormous. The Tees Valley already works really effectively together and through devolved powers we can play a major part in growing the region’s economy by supporting business development and tackling unemployment.”

The Treasury has already responded to criticisms of the devolution deal from Simon Henig, Durham County Council leader, and from Tyneside where the Government's idea of a 'metro mayor' has been rejected. The Government spokesman said Cornwall did not need an elected mayor because it was already a unitary authority with decisive leadership.