Andy Burnham will get full control over his budget in 'trailblazer' devolution deal
manchestereveningnews.co.ukAndy Burnham will have full control over local funding, the government has announced. The Greater Manchester mayor would be given a single budget rather than having to bid for separate pots of cash, the Chancellor said.
Delivering his budget speech, Jeremy Hunt said that this would give Mr Burnham's more financial freedom. The new funding proposals for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands could also soon be rolled out elsewhere.
The move means that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) would be treated more like a government department. It gives the mayor more power to move money around and spend it according to his own priorities. READ MORE: The 10 key announcement's from Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget including childcare changes It comes after months of negotiations over a new devolution deal for the two city-regions which were selected by the government as 'trailblazer' areas.
Local leaders have asked for more control over skills and education budgets, railway services and stations and new powers to punish rogue landlords.
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