North of Tyne Combined Authority Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority | |
|---|---|
 | |
 North of Tyne Combined Authority within England | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 2 November 2018 |
| Disbanded | 7 May 2024 |
| Succeeded by | North East Combined Authority |
| Leadership | |
Inaugural Combined Authority Mayor | |
| Structure | |
Joint committees | North East Joint Transport Committee |
| Meeting place | |
| The Lumen, Newcastle Helix, St James Boulevard,Newcastle upon Tyne[1] | |
| Website | |
www | |
TheNorth of Tyne Combined Authority was amayoral combined authority which consisted of the local authorities ofNewcastle upon Tyne,North Tyneside, andNorthumberland, all inNorth East England.[2] The authority came into being on 2 November 2018 under the statutory nameNewcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority. The threelocal authorities previously formed part of theNorth East Combined Authority, which continued to exist covering a smaller area. The two combined authorities cooperated on theNorth East Joint Transport Committee.[3][4]
The authority met for the first time on 8 November 2018 atMorpeth Town Hall.Norma Redfearn, the elected mayor ofNorth Tyneside Council, was appointed the chair until an interim mayor was appointed.[5] At the combined authority cabinet meeting held on 4 December 2018, Norma Redfearn was confirmed as the interim mayor, and remained in post until the election ofLabour and Co-operative'sJamie Driscoll as the authority's first directly elected mayor.
In its levelling up white paper, published in February 2022, the UK government announced its intention expand the existing North of Tyne MCA to include the local authorities of Gateshead, South Tyneside, Durham and Sunderland to form a largerNorth East Mayoral Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority ceased to exist in May 2024.
The authority was formed on 2 November 2018 and in May 2019, elections were held for a directly elected regional mayor who has taken control of certain powers and funding devolved fromWestminster to the newly formed region.[6] A fund of £600 million over 30 years, to be administered by the new mayor, was announced in the November 2017 budget.[7]
The responsibilities and governance of the three constituent local authorities will remain unchanged.[8]
The total population of the combined area is approximately 816,000[9] and it covers an area of 2,012 square miles (5,210 km2).[10] Despite the name "North of Tyne," parts of the area are south of theRiver Tyne, including the towns ofHexham andPrudhoe.
On 27 April 2018, Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle City Council voted to support the proposal.[11] In November 2018 parliament approved the proposal and thefirst election for the combined authority took place on 2 May 2019 along with the otherelections across the United Kingdom.[12]
The 2020 Spring Budget from central government reserves funding for "intra-city transport" betweenTees Valley andTyne and Wear, which has been interpreted by some as meaning the borders of the North of Tyne Combined Authority could be adjusted.[13]
Following the publication of theLevelling Up White Paper in February 2022, it was announced that the North of Tyne is proposed to be enlarged, with Gateshead,South Tyneside andSunderland joining. County Durham is currently in pursuit of an independent devolution plan.[14] The enlargement would come with an expansion of powers including those for transport, and incorporating thepolice and crime commissioner role forNorthumbria Police, inline with other mayoral combined authorities. The final election took place during the May2024 United Kingdom local elections.[14] The authority merged into theNorth East Mayoral Combined Authority on 7 May 2024.
Formal membership of the North of Tyne Combined Authority consists of those serving on the following statutory committees:
The Combined Authority consists of the following authorities (2024 population estimates):
| Authority | Type | Population | Area (km²) | Pop. Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | Unitary authority | 331,420 | 5,020 | 66 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Metropolitan borough | 320,605 | 113 | 2,826 |
| North Tyneside | Metropolitan borough | 215,025 | 82 | 2,613 |
| Name | Picture | Term of office | Elected | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma Redfearn Interim Mayor |  | 4 December 2018 | 2 May 2019 | — | Labour | |
| Jamie Driscoll |  | 6 May 2019 | 6 May 2024 | 2019 | Labour Co-op (2019–2023) Independent (2023–2024) | |