County council leaders have urged the new Government to go ‘further and faster’ with the devolution agenda and to conclude deals with the first cohort of county areas by the end of autumn.

In the second chapter of Five Point Plan for County and Unitary Councils, published today, the County Councils Network (CCN) called on the levelling up secretary Simon Clarke to conclude negotiations with the seven remaining county areas from the first cohort by the end of November.

The CCN argued that the extra investment and powers will be vital to improving the productivity of local economies in the face of sluggish economic growth and the cost-of-living crisis.

The previous Government agreed devolution deals for North Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the summer.

The network also argued that the Government should commit to beginning negotiations with at least two-thirds of CCN’s 36 council areas by the end of this Parliament.

Cllr Martin Hill, devolution spokesperson for the CCN, said: ‘Two of the new Government’s key aims are growing the economy and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. If we are to see the growth needed to boost productivity and bring down inflation, it is vital that economies in all four corners of the country are firing on all cylinders.

‘County authorities are not short of ambition but the majority of them lack the powers and investment enjoyed by metro mayors in city areas, which is why it is imperative that the government ensures that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is passed through Parliament as soon as possible.

‘When the Bill is passed, there should be no let up from the government. We urge ministers to go further and faster than before, turbocharging devolution so more of our great counties are able to able to benefit quicker.’

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) spokesperson said: 'We want to see more areas with a high-profile, directly elected leader who will be accountable to local people and able to deliver for their communities.

'Negotiations are rapidly progressing with a number of areas to agree their devolution deals. We aim to announce these in 2022.'