AN ‘expression of interest’ over devolution for Cheshire and Warrington looks set to be submitted shortly.

Warrington Borough Council’s Labour group voted for the town to team up with Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Cheshire East Council, in a devolution deal – instead of the Liverpool City Region – in January 2017.

Angela Rayner – the deputy Prime Minister and secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government – has pledged to kick-start a new ‘devolution revolution’ to transfer more powers out of Westminster and into the hands of local people.

In July, she wrote to local leaders across the country about the next steps for devolution.

In the letter, the deputy Prime Minister said she would welcome proposals by the end of September to ‘participate in a first set of devolution settlements’.

Speaking on Friday, Warrington Borough Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said: “We are making good progress around an ambitious devolution agenda, in terms of powers and resources being delegated from Whitehall into Cheshire and Warrington.”

He highlighted the possibility of being named as a member of an ‘accelerated’ programme for devolution – with an ‘expression of interest’ to be submitted to the Government by the end of September, which would include early devolution proposals.

“But there is still a lot of detail to be resolved,” he added.

“At some point in these discussions, there will be a public consultation on this, to increase public awareness and engagement, and to help people understand what it is.

“Under devolution, there is absolutely no part of it which would include anyone picking up anyone else’s debt – councils will remain completely independent, for any Combined Authority or mayor that may come forward.”