North East Combined Authority

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North East Combined Authority
North East Combined Authority logo 2024.svg
North East Combined Authorty 2014.svg
North East Combined Authority within England
Type
Type
History
Founded7 May 2024
Leadership
Kim McGuinness,
Labour
since May 2024
Structure
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
4 May 2028
Meeting place
The Lumen, St James Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne [1]
Website
https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/
Constitution
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/402/contents/made

The North East Combined Authority (NECA) is a combined authority in North East England. NECA has a directly-elected Mayor and seven member councils; two county unitary authorities (Durham and Northumberland) and five metropolitan boroughs (Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland).

Contents

A separate devolved region comprising five councils, the Tees Valley, borders the south of the combined authority's devolved region. Together the two combined authorities occupy the geographic extent of the North East England English region. [2] [3]

The authority was announced on 28 December 2022 in the North East devolution deal and will be fully operational by May 2024. On 6 March 2024, the Government announced the North East deeper devolution deal, which supersedes the previous devolution deal and will give NEMCA increased devolved powers. [4] [5] [6]

The first election for the authority took place on 2 May 2024, and the replacement of both the non-mayoral North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority happened on 7 May 2024. [2]

History

The Tyne and Wear County Council was abolished in 1986 alongside other metropolitan county governments. In 2004, a referendum was held in the North East region to establish a devolved assembly, which was rejected by voters. [7]

The North East Combined Authority (NECA) was established in April 2014, including seven councils: Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland. [8] A devolution deal was agreed, including the creation of a mayor to be elected in 2017. In September 2016, that deal broke down, as the leaders south of the Tyne were worried about the loss of EU funding, and in 2017 no mayor was elected. [9]

From 2 November 2018, the boundaries of NECA were reduced to Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside. [8] The remaining areas left to form a mayoral combined authority called the North of Tyne Combined Authority. [7] The division of the Tyneside built up area into two combined authorities was criticised. [9]

In the Levelling Up white paper, the Government announced a larger mayoral combined authority would be created for the region. Durham was to negotiate a separate county deal. [7] On 28 December 2022, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove announced a £1.4 billion devolution deal. The deal included the establishment of a unified mayoral combined authority, with a mayor to be elected in 2024. [10] Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said local councils were being forced into the deal and that it did not represent levelling up; he said he agreed with its introduction nevertheless. [11] The seven local councils approved the final plans for the NEMCA on 9 November 2023, subject to approval by the chief executives of the councils, to allow for the Secretary of State to make the order for the NEMCA to be established. [12]

The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024, which creates the Combined Authority and makes provision about its functions, was laid before Parliament on 8 February 2024 [13] [14] [15] and was made as a statutory instrument on 20 March 2024. [16] [17]

On 6 March 2024, the Government announced the North East deeper devolution deal, which supersedes the previous devolution deal and will give NEMCA increased devolved powers. [4] The deeper devolution deal was signed on 18 March 2024. The deal includes provisions to establish a new North East Strategic Energy Board to coordinate energy supply and demand and promote growth in the offshore wind sector and a new a North East Coastal and Rural Taskforce to strengthen the region’s rural and coastal communities. [18]

Geography

Constituent councils of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority
Ceremonial CountyUnitary authoritiesCouncil
County Durham County Durham Durham County Council
Northumberland Northumberland Northumberland County Council
Tyne and Wear Gateshead Gateshead Council
City of Newcastle Newcastle City Council
North Tyneside North Tyneside Council
South Tyneside South Tyneside Council
City of Sunderland Sunderland City Council

Constitution

Constitution

The arrangements for NECA's governance were set out in the North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024. [14]

The NECA cabinet will have eight voting members and two non-voting members: [2]

The Mayor will provide leadership to the combined authority and chair combined authority meetings. A deputy Mayor will be appointed from among the voting members of the authority and the Mayor may delegate mayoral functions to authority members. [2] When the authority first meets it will have to decide what title the mayor is to be known by. [19]

Mayoral functions

The functions devolved to the Mayor are: [4]

Cabinet

As of May 2024, the cabinet of the combined authority is as follows: [20]

NameMembershipPosition within nominating authorityNominating authority
Kim McGuinness Constituent Mayor of the North East North East Combined Authority
Amanda HopgoodConstituentLeader of the Council Durham County Council
Martin GannonConstituentLeader of the Council Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Nick KempConstituentLeader of the Council Newcastle City Council
Norma Redfearn Constituent Mayor of North Tyneside North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Glen SandersonConstituentLeader of the Council Northumberland County Council
Tracey DixonConstituentLeader of the Council South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Graeme MillerConstituentLeader of the Council Sunderland City Council
Lucy WinskellNon-constituentChairBusiness Board
TBANon-constituentRepresentativeCommunity and Voluntary Sector Member

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East England</span> Region of England

North East England is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. The region has three current administrative levels below the region level in the region: combined authority, unitary authority or metropolitan borough, and civil parishes. They are also multiple divisions without administrative functions; ceremonial county, emergency services, built-up areas and historic county. The largest settlements in the region are Newcastle upon Tyne, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Gateshead, Darlington, Hartlepool and Durham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyne and Wear</span> County of England

Tyne and Wear is a ceremonial county in North East England. It borders Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south, and the largest settlement is the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead</span> Town in Tyne and Wear, England

Gateshead is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The town shares the Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and multiple other bridges with Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Tyneside</span> Metropolitan borough in England

South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Tyneside</span> Metropolitan borough in England

North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England. It forms part of the greater Tyneside conurbation. North Tyneside Council is headquartered at Cobalt Park, Wallsend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead</span> Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England

The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England. It includes Gateshead, Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon, Ryton, Felling, Birtley, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell. The borough forms part of the Tyneside conurbation, centred on Newcastle upon Tyne. At the 2021 census, the borough had a population of 196,154.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle City Council</span> Local government body in England

Newcastle City Council is the local authority for Newcastle upon Tyne, a metropolitan borough with city status in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. The council consists of 78 councillors, three for each of the 26 wards in the city. It has been under Labour majority control since 2011. The council is a constituent member of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland City Council</span> Local authority of Sunderland, England

Sunderland City Council is the local authority of Sunderland, a metropolitan borough with city status in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is one of five such councils in Tyne and Wear and one of 36 in England. It provides the majority of local government services in Sunderland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northumberland County Council</span> Local authority in North East England

Northumberland County Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Northumberland in North East England. Since 2009 it has been a unitary authority, having also taken over district-level functions when the county's districts were abolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham County Council</span> Local authority in North East England

Durham County Council is the local authority which governs the non-metropolitan county of County Durham in North East England. Since 2009 it has been a unitary authority, having taken over district-level functions when the county's districts were abolished. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county of County Durham, which additionally includes Darlington, Hartlepool and the parts of Stockton-on-Tees north of the River Tees. The county council has its headquarters at County Hall in Durham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combined authorities and combined county authorities</span> Type of local government institution in England

A combined authority (CA) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. CAs are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Tyneside Council</span> Local government body in England

North Tyneside Council is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It is one of five such councils in Tyne and Wear, and one of 36 in England. It provides the majority of local government services in North Tyneside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Combined Authority (2014-2024)</span> Abolished local government institution in North East England

The North East Combined Authority (NECA), officially the Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority, was one of the combined authorities in North East England. It was created in 2014, and consisted of the City of Sunderland; Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, South Tyneside; and Durham County local authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Tyneside Council</span>

South Tyneside Council is the local authority of for the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is one of five metropolitan boroughs in Tyne and Wear and one of 36 in England. It provides the majority of local government services in South Tyneside. The council has been under Labour majority control since 1979. It is based at South Shields Town Hall. The council is a constituent member of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.

The North East Green Belt, also known as the Tyne & Wear Green Belt, is a non-statutory green belt environmental and planning policy that regulates the rural space in part of the North East region of England. It is centred on the county of Tyne and Wear, with areas of green belt extending into Northumberland and County Durham. It functions to protect surrounding towns and villages outside the Tyneside/Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Wearside/Sunderland conurbations from further convergence. This is managed by local planning authorities on guidance from central government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North of Tyne Combined Authority</span> Local government body in north east England

The North of Tyne Combined Authority was a mayoral combined authority which consisted of the local authorities of Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland, all in North East England. The authority came into being on 2 November 2018 under the statutory name Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority. The three local authorities previously formed part of the North East Combined Authority, which continued to exist covering a smaller area. The two combined authorities cooperated on the North East Joint Transport Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 North of Tyne mayoral election</span> First mayoral election in the North of Tyne

The inaugural North of Tyne mayoral election was held on 2 May 2019 to elect the first Mayor of the North of Tyne. The area is made up of Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Subsequent elections will be held every five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Joint Transport Committee</span>

The North East Joint Transport Committee was a special joint committee of the North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority. It is responsible for public transport policy in Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland in England. It is the governing body of Nexus, the trading name of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. The inaugural meeting was held on 20 November 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Driscoll</span> British independent politician

Jamie Driscoll is a British Independent politician who served as the metro mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority from 2019 to 2024. He was previously a councillor on Newcastle City Council for the Monument ward.

References

  1. https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/contact-us
  2. 1 2 3 4 "North East devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/media/28957/North-East-Devolution-Scheme/pdf/Scheme_-_final.pdf?m=638103399897930000
  4. 1 2 3 "North East deeper devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  5. Holland, Daniel (6 March 2024). "What the North East's £100m-plus 'trailblazer' deal means for the region". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  6. Ford, Coreena (6 March 2024). "'Trailblazer' deal set to deliver massive boost to North East". Business Live. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "Devolution to the North of Tyne". The Institute for Government. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  8. 1 2 North East Combined Authority Profile (PDF) (Report). June 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  9. 1 2 Cities, Centre (26 November 2017). "North of Tyne devolution - a victory for pragmatism over perfection". Centre for Cities. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  10. "North East mayor created as part of £1.4bn devolution deal". BBC News. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  11. Holland, Daniel (4 January 2023). "'Not a good deal' – Claims North East 'forced' into £4.2bn devolution". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  12. "£4.2bn North East deal gets local approval | Newcastle City Council". www.newcastle.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  13. "North East moves one step closer to historic Mayor". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  14. 1 2 "The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024". legislation.gov.uk. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  15. "Multibillion-pound North East devolution deal reaches Parliament". BBC News. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  16. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/402/contents/made
  17. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-east/law-passed-for-new-combined-authority
  18. "Trailblazer deal signed by Council Leaders". Northeastdevolution. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  19. "Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, s. 107H". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  20. https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/downloads/2622/neca-cabinet-7-may-2024-supplementary-agenda-pack.pdf