The chief executive of the North East's largest business membership organisation says he wants the region to secure a new business friendly devolution deal.
John McCabe, of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, has been engaging with local authority leaders to impress upon them the needs of businesses in a mooted deal that could bring together Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
And he has urged businesses to come forward with their needs across areas such as skills and transport, where devolved powers are on the table and politicians are said to be close to reaching an agreement.
