THE five Tees Valley councils are to press ahead with plans to establish a combined authority after a majority of the public voted for the move.

Sixty five per cent of more than 1,900 responses received during a seven-week long public consultation were in favour of a combined authority.

This would not mean the five councils merging to create one big council – they would continue to exist in their own right – but would see them unite as a formal Tees Valley combined authority on matters of economic development, transport, infrastructure and skills.

Just this week Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald told a House of Commons debate that the region was “at the mercy” of more powerful cities and would continue to be starved of transport funds in particular.

Council leaders hope this new body could unlock devolved powers and resources from the Government.

Each borough council will now be asked to approve a scheme to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and it could be approved as early as autumn.

Members of the public were asked to fill out an online survey, which was promoted by council websites, while business and residents groups were also asked for their views.

A spokeswoman for Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU), the Local Enterprise Partnership for the authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton on Tees, said the level of response had been “above the norm”.

Bill Dixon, Vice-Chairman of TVU and leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Creating a Combined Authority will build upon existing excellent partnerships and put a structure in place that ensures the area can take advantage of new powers and funding which may become available.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon added: “A Combined Authority approach is not a silver bullet for all the challenges we face, but it has the potential to create greater devolution.

“A strong single voice is essential if we are to advance the Tees area agenda on key strategic issues such as transport, employment and in the skills agenda which are crucial to economic growth.”