Manchester’s ‘new deal’ to tackle ‘big ticket proposals’

The powerful Greater Manchester Combined Authority is to review protocols between its 10 council members and bodies it governs such as Transport for Greater Manchester in the New Year as it prepares to refresh its constitution three years after inception.

Lord Peter Smith, chairman of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: "We've made considerable progress since the GMCA was established. But the next phase of our growth involves 'big ticket' proposals which can only be delivered at scale. This involves delivering major transformational growth projects which will create jobs and boost our economy and changing public services so that they improve people's lives at the same time as reducing dependency on the state.

"We also face radically different circumstances to three years ago and need to make sure that the GMCA, and the other Greater Manchester-wide bodies it works with, are structured so that they are fit for purpose and help us deliver our ambitious goals."

Bodies covered by the scope of the review include Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Transport for Greater Manchester, the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority and developing closer relationships with the Police & Crime Commissioner and his office.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority is the only combined authority in the country and came into effect in March 2011. It has helped GM pool evidence and form larger plans when bidding for devolved power and financial assistance from government, such as the lucrative City Deal.

The 10 council leaders who make up the GMCA's Executive have asked its wider leadership team to conduct a root and branch review of how the combined authority and other Greater Manchester-wide bodies are governed and the relationships between them.

As part of this it is intended to develop a new deal between the GMCA and the 10 Greater Manchester councils and other partners, with protocols setting out what they can do for each other.

Details of the review and consultation process will be announced in the New Year.

GMCA recently set out its new action plan for growth in the next decade.