The election of a new North East mayor has been hailed as a significant moment in levelling up the region – but some locals feel the potential of a County Durham-only deal is an opportunity missed.
More than £1.4 billion will be invested in the region over the next 30 years, with fresh powers over the adult education budget and the opportunity to improve local rail services.
Like mayor Ben Houchen in the Tees Valley the elected individual will help attract investment to the area and act as a powerful local voice in discussions with central government.
But the announcement of the deal hasn’t come without its complications. Durham County Council was previously considering its own single-county devolution deal instead of joining a region-wide body. However, it is understood Government insistence that such an arrangement would require the election of a county mayor was a sticking point for the council’s coalition.
Read next: £1.4bn devolution deal for North East includes County Durham
With the deal now officially agreed with the Government, it must be formally approved by each council involved and go out to a public consultation – steps that it is hoped will be completed before the local election period begins in the spring.
For County Durham residents, the announcement has received a mixed reaction. Labour fears this deal would short-change the county, it would be left to receive ‘crumbs off the table’ and won’t have the best interests of the county’s people and places at heart.
Hannah Davies said: “Huge importance for Durham to have a strong voice in this. As someone who lives in Durham but commuted to Newcastle for a decade, I can see so much potential but also potential pitfalls if Durham is an afterthought.”
Bill Masen added: “£1.3 billion will disappear into the Tyne, Wear and Tees metropolitan areas. Co Durham and Northumberland will get the dregs of what’s left. The two rural areas will ALWAYS play second fiddle in scenarios like this.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about new £1.4bn North East devolution deal
Early indications suggest the mayor would be affiliated with the Labour party due to current local authority control in the north of the region. Jamie Driscoll, the North of Tyne Labour mayor, which covers Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, said he would stand as a candidate for the election due to be held in May 2024.
He admitted he did “cartwheels down the street” but warned the new powers would not fix the deprivation and lack of funding the region experiences.
“This deal means billions to invest in jobs, homes, skills training, and much more. It means greater control over things that matter to people, such as transport,” Mr Driscoll added.
David Lacey agreed as hopes devolution will unlock the region’s potential, he said: “We must ask if the following 18 years have seen the region improve radically, the way that other parts of the country have under directly elected mayors. Andy Burnham comes to mind. The answer is simple. No. So, with a degree of concern that this will just become a talking shop and the big conurbations will cream off the money, I think it should be implemented.”
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