Greater Manchester councils back city region pilot

Manchester and the other nine boroughs will get more powers

Proposals to create a new "city region" authority in Greater Manchester have been backed by all 10 councils.

The body, which was announced last year, would give the region more power to shape its own transport, education and housing planning.

Stockport was the last authority to say yes to the pilot, which had already been backed by the other nine.

The government hopes giving the region more freedom will help to create jobs suitable for the local economy.

Under the pilot agreement, the new body would replace the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

This is about growth, it is about jobs, it is about investment Lord Peter Smith, AGMA chair

Lord Peter Smith, chair of AGMA, said the new authority would "give a strong voice to the region".

"This is about growth, it is about jobs, it is about investment and it is about our city region speaking with a strong, united voice.

"It demonstrates the commitment of all of us - whatever our political hue - to put the common interests of our communities first."

Final approval now rests with the government and, if approved, the new authority should be created from 1 April 2011.

Under the new arrangement, a committee would be set up to assume responsibility for delivering transport across the region.

Powers to shape post-16 education, economic development and early years development would also be given to the authority.

AGMA officials said it would see a "real and significant transfer" of powers from central government.

It gave the example of transport powers, which would be similar to those of Transport for London (TfL).