To consider a joint report of the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council.

The Chief Executive and Leader of the Council submitted a joint report setting out the implications for Trafford of the recent Agreement with the Government to devolve functional and fiscal responsibilities alongside a staged approach to Greater Manchester governance arrangements.

The report outlined the importance of the Community Strategy and how it fed into shaping Greater Manchester priorities, the proposed Governance arrangements and the relationship between Trafford Council, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and a Greater Manchester Mayor. The report also highlighted the areas where there would be further opportunities for devolution in the future and concluded with the resource implications for the next stages of the work to develop the necessary policy and legislative framework for devolution.

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)        Endorses the overall approach to the devolved powers as set out in the body of the report.

(2)        Requests the Leader and the Chief Executive to report to the Executive and future Council Meetings on the specific constitutional and other implications for Trafford Council following the outcome of the GMCA Consultation and in relation to the development of the Governance arrangements and the terms of the Statutory Order.

(3)        Notes the proposal to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to respond formally to the GMCA consultation on devolution in the terms set out in this report; and to finalise on behalf of the Council, the Council’s response to the final terms of the Governance arrangements including the terms of the Statutory Order.