North East council bosses are "weeks away" from agreeing a region-wide devolution deal that would see seven local authorities united under one banner.
ChronicleLive understands that the chief executives of the region's local authorities have been meeting with Government officials this last week to discuss proposals for a combined authority.
Previous talks over such a move broke down in 2016 after a split in the region’s Labour-dominated establishment, after which Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland broke away to form their own North of Tyne Combined Authority.
Read more: How North East devolution split on the shores of the Tyne