An independent commission has been launched to review the trends and challenges facing county areas.

The independent commission on growth and public service reform in non-metropolitan areas will look at economic, social and demographic issues.

Members of the Local Government Association’s people and places board met this week to agree the commission’s remit.

Board chair David Hodge said at the meeting: ‘Unfortunately, the way we deliver public services is not the way we would do it if we landed from Mars tomorrow.

‘We’re not going to wait for somebody else. We are going to change it.

‘We, as the people and places board, [will] actually start to become the voice for transforming public services.

‘If we fail on this I shall be really cross and you don’t want to see me cross.

‘It will make sure the money goes further than it does today because we will not have the same money in 10 years.’