Minutes:
The Leader of the Council provided a detailed update to Cabinet on developments with the proposed devolution agreement. This included the timeline of events, the decisions taken, and the issues which lead to the NECA Leadership Board which met on 6 September 2016 to consider its position on the draft governance scheme and review, determine by a majority decision not to progress with the publication and consultation of the governance review and scheme at this stage.
He went on to advise that the Board wrote to the Secretary of State to notify him of this decision and to reiterate that each of the NECA authorities unambiguously support the principle of devolution for the North East and are keen to progress with the next stage in devolving powers and functions to the region, however at that point in time, it had not been possible to reach an agreement which all of the seven local authorities felt able to support.
In response, the government announced that it was withdrawing the devolution deal.
The Leader advised that he had kept the other group leaders on the Council informed as the process went along, and when seeking the views of those group leaders / representatives, who were present at the Cabinet meeting, noted there was support for the action taken. The Leader advised that the Authority would continue to seek what was best for County Durham, and continue working with their neighbours in the NECA area, and in the Tees Valley area.