About Us
Together we are greater than the sum of our parts:
For the last two decades the ten local authorities of Greater Manchester have voluntarily proved that to be true.
The power of AGMA (the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) working at a city region level, comes from these ten very individual councils working together with the private sector to drive new investment, co-ordinate planning and deliver results for the greater good.
Now plans are in place to take these twenty years of voluntary co-operation and cohesion, to the next, more formalised level. Lord Peter Smith, the Chair of AGMA and Leader of Wigan Council said, ‘the move to become a Combined Authority will allow us to work together more effectively on regional issues like the economy and transport and, to do it on a proper basis.
In this economic climate we will have to make some tough decisions and you cannot do that on a voluntary basis. But I believe that we will still work on a consensual basis because all ten authorities believe the outcomes will be better’.
To help drive this approach Greater Manchester is at the forefront of involving the private sector in our decision making and we have developed the capacity to enable the private sector to play a key role in influencing the strategic direction.
The members of the Business Leadership Council are wholly from the private sector and take responsibility for providing advice on our major policy areas where we all have difficult choices to make.
We have set up a Local Enterprise Partnership, involving the private sector which will continue to build on our strong approach to private/public sector collaboration.
This unique partnership approach, with input and support from the wider public, private, voluntary sectors and Universities, has the seemingly simple goal of improving the quality of life for those who live, work or visit Greater Manchester. This will mean providing energy efficient housing, improved public transport, higher education and targeted training, with access to jobs through sustained economic growth.
Our new arrangements:
From April 1st 2011 the first ever Combined Authority came into being giving the ten local authorities of Greater Manchester new powers with the aim of
Improving; within Greater Manchester the effectiveness and efficiency of transport services, economic development and regeneration.
The aims of the Combined Authority will be complimented by the work of AGMA which will continue to collaborate across the sub region on:
- Health,
- Public Protection
- Housing
- Strategic Planning
- Environment
- Improvement & Efficiency
- Grants
