Cheshire East Council looks set to start detailed discussions with the government by the end of next month about a devolution deal with Cheshire West & Chester and Warrington.

Cheshire East agreed in June to hold talks about devolution and had anticipated those discussions would take place over a nine to 12-month period.

With the change of government, it now looks as though that process will be speeded up.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has written to all councils encouraging them to enter discussions early so the government can devolve new powers over transport, skills, housing, planning and employment support.

A report to this week's meeting of Cheshire East's corporate policy committee from Peter Skates, the council's acting executive director of place, states: "From initial discussions with government, it is clear that the government consider Cheshire & Warrington as an early candidate for accelerated and proactive engagement to achieve a proposal, and they would seek to commence detailed discussions with the three councils in the next six to eight weeks, i.e, by end of September 2024."

The report says the council will be engaging on both options of having an elected mayor and not having an elected mayor to establish the principles, and key benefits to Cheshire East, and also Cheshire & Warrington sub region.

It adds: "Being within the first wave of discussions could have multiple benefits, as opposed to being placed at the back of the queue of local authorities, with Cheshire East potentially losing out on investment and funding to support programmes, services, and projects for an extended period of time."

Cheshire East's corporate policy committee is expected to approve the setting up of a member reference group to help progress discussions with government officials about a devolution deal when it meets on Wednesday (August 21).

The committee meeting takes place at 5.30pm at the council's Westfields HQ at Sandbach.