Communities secretary Greg Clark has hinted he could back devolution in Leicestershire without enforcing a mayor.

Speaking at the Local Government Association conference, Mr Clark said he was ‘very impressed’ with a devolution bid from Leicester and Leicestershire which is understood to lack proposals for a directly elected mayor.

He told the District Councils Network reception that he thought the bid was ‘a very positive proposal’.

‘It seems to me a very good example of where the district, county and unitary have been working together for some time, proposed something that actually doesn’t make huge demands in terms of devolved powers from secretaries of state but reflects a desire to work together,’ he said.

However Mr Clark said he would make a decision ‘following proper advice’,