Green light for North Wales bypass

Cllr Andrew Western, leader of Trafford’s Labour group, was last night formally named as the council’s new leader, taking over from Conservative Sean Anstee.

City Mayor Joe Anderson has rung the changes following the departure of three senior members of Liverpool City Council’s leadership group.

Salford City Council is to bring planning and building control services, property, and highways and infrastructure back in-house once the current contract with Urban Vision, its partnership with Capita and Galliford Try, ends in January 2020.

Cheshire West & Chester Council has appointed Andrew Lewis, currently managing director for the Tees Valley Combined Authority, as its new chief executive, replacing the retiring Gerald Meehan.

Today is Preston City Council chief executive Lorraine Norris’s final day before she retires after nine years in the post, handing over to interim Adrian Phillips. Place North West talks to Norris about her legacy, Preston’s progress, and Lancashire’s chance for devolution.

In the latest change at the top of Preston City Council, Matthew Brown has been appointed as leader of the council in place of Peter Rankin, who has retired from his role.

The Government’s announcement that it will fund the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding by councils and housing associations, estimated at £400m, has been met with approval by one of the region's key social landlords.

Business leaders from across the North have joined together to warn Government that proposed revisions to national planning policy could undermine efforts to rebalance the economy through the Northern Powerhouse.