A new devolution deal to have a North East mayor elected in 2024 could be put before the region’s leaders this summer.
Hopes were ignited earlier this year of a fresh deal being struck to bring more than £1bn of investment to the region and reunite councils on either side of the Tyne, after levelling up secretary Michael Gove confirmed in February that he would be “taking forward negotiations”.
The move is expected to see a regional mayor elected to govern a combined authority covering Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. County Durham is pursuing its own single-county devolution arrangements, though this has been branded a “mistake” by one council leader.