TALKS are continuing over a potential Cheshire and Warrington devolution deal which would increase their power and unlock millions of pounds a year.

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

If arrangements are thrashed out, the move would see the Government delegate major powers to the three authorities.

It could deliver funds of at least £30 million a year for a decade, although it may have the potential to secure this amount of cash for close to 25 years.

Cllr Bob Barr, leader of the town’s Liberal Democrats, says the announcement that all 15 local authorities in Lancashire have agreed to form a combined authority with an elected mayor puts Cheshire and Warrington under pressure to decide ‘if this is the way they want to go’.

He said: “When the Cheshire and Warrington deal was being discussed, officers were concerned to establish the ‘size of the prize’ for agreeing to the Government’s preferred model of a combined authority with an elected executive mayor for the whole area.

“This would bring us into line with Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, but Warrington would lose some autonomy.

“Liberal Democrats already have successful elected mayors running Watford and Bedford.

“If pushed towards accepting an elected mayor, we would prefer it to be for Warrington alone.”

WBC chief executive Steven Broomhead confirmed the council is awaiting a Government white paper around devolution.

“We are told this will be in the late summer, early autumn,” he said.

“The three councils in Cheshire continue to meet to consider a joined-up approach around devolution but we can’t do anything until we know what is in that white paper.”

Mr Broomhead also emphasised the model of councils in Lancashire is far different to Cheshire and Warrington.

He added: “It is good to see that in the north west people are moving in that direction but it’s not exactly very relevant to our good selves here in Cheshire.

“It is about the money but the power is equally as important really.”

Although it depends on what is included in the white paper, it is expected that Cheshire and Warrington would need to have one elected mayor as part of a deal.