A winning combination

摘要

Devolution is in the air and Tees Valley recently became the latest area to throw its hat into the ring with what one business leader dubbed 'devo-Tees'. Proposals for a combined authority, announced last month, would bring the five local councils together to focus on economic development, transport, infrastructure and skills. But what sets the Tees Valley Combined Authority apart are its plans to work in parallel with its local enterprise partnership. If the proposals go ahead, it will not only hold joint meetings with Tees Valley Unlimited and business representatives but also share staff and resources. In many ways it is a natural step for an area that has a long history of joint working between the local authorities. Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, leader of Hartlepool Council, describes the combined authority as 'an opportunity to cement the excellent partnership working arrangements that already exist between the five Tees Valley councils and businesses'. Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon believes the move could free the Tees Valley from Whitehall bureaucracy and give the area 'a strong single voice to advance the Tees area agenda to national government on the big strategic issues such as transport, employment and in particular the skills agenda which is the prerequisite to economic growth for our area'.