So Manchester will get a mayor, (after turning the opportunity down in 2012) and (in theory) some level of autonomy. Will this start cries of 'we want one' from Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield et al?
More to the point, what will really be given to Manchester after the general election?
Not quite - its Greater Manchester that is getting a mayor not the City of Manchester (which of course has a Lord Mayor!)
In this case the Mayor of Greater Manchester will have far greater powers than would the elected Mayor of Manchester obtained.
Government press release states
"A new, directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester will receive the following powers:
control of a £300 million Housing Investment Fund
powers over strategic planning, including the power to create a statutory spatial framework for Greater Manchester. This will need to be approved by a unanimous vote of the Mayors Cabinet
responsibility for a devolved and consolidated transport budget, with a multi-year settlement to be agreed at the next Spending Review, and responsibility for franchised bus services (subject to consultation by Greater Manchester), and for integrated smart ticketing across all local modes of transport
control of a reformed earn back deal, within the current envelope of £30 million a year for 30 years this gives Greater Manchester the certainty they need to extend the Metrolink to Trafford Park
take on the role currently covered by the Police and Crime Commissioner"
Greater Manchester's ten local authorities have been at the forefront of working together and this is good news with regard to devolving more power and money away from London and for transport.
The aim is exactly as you state to get other city regions to collaborate more - Birmingham is often seen as the opposite to Manchester as a city that punches way below its weight because the region's local authorities to do not collaborate with each other in the same way.
Interesting that the coalition have effectively stolen Labour's policy for greater devolution for cities and delivered it incredibly quickly in a city which is dominated by Labour! Not sure what that says about Manchester's politicians views of whether Labour can win the next election or if they do they will deliver it.
It is also stated that the new Mayor will effectively introduce London style bus tendering which also preempts another Labour policy in relation to buses. Amazing what an election on the horizon can do to speed up policy making.
