Tony Lloyd with Helen White from Marketing Stockport (video from Bellyflop TV)
Transport, health provision and skills training will be the main challenges when power is devolved to Greater Manchester, according to interim Manchester mayor Tony Lloyd.
Mr Lloyd was speaking at a devolution event hosted by Stockport Council and Marketing Stockport at the Alma Lodge Hotel in Stockport.
The former Labour MP for Central Manchester also talked about the challenges facing businesses and how the 10 Greater Manchester councils will work need to together and with the new mayor, expected to be in place by 2017.
He said the 10 local authorities need to work in partnership with each other in ‘cabinet-style government’.
Mr Lloyd said: “Transport will be one of the major projects and is a high priority – I will be looking at refranchising the public transport system
“Our transport system isn’t adequate and we have a challenge to make sure our public transport system is right.
“We have now been given the power to do something about it.
“We have to give people the opportunity to move freely around the conurbation.
“People need access to the tram system and be able to drive their own car to a tram stop with secure parking.
“I also want to see an integrated public transport system with a single ticket system.”
Health
Greater Manchester Combined Council already has control of its health and care budget ahead of full devolution, expected to be late 2016 or 2017.
It is hoped that the region will have more control over crucial decisions over transport, regeneration and growth.
Mr Lloyd added: “Health is the single biggest challenge we face – it’s in everyone’s interests that we get the arrangements around mental health right.
“It can’t be right that we have four mental health trusts that aren’t working together.
“Devolution will make a huge difference in Greater Manchester, working in a much more focused way than ever before.
“We have to make sure we are growing the economy and have the ambition to reform.
“We have got grow the Greater Manchester economy, put wealth back into the economy and remove the barriers that prevent business growth.
“You need to recognise that you can provide the employment that the area needs.”