Redcar and Cleveland councillors have voted to support the idea of a combined authority for the Tees Valley.
A Full Council meeting voted in favour of endorsing the draft scheme, prior to its submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Darlington, Middlesbrough and Stockton councils have already approved the proposal.
In a lengthy debate at the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart, most councillors endorsed the general idea of a combined authority, with just a few dissenting voices.
Labour group leader, Councillor Sue Jeffrey, said: “If we don’t stand united and agree this is the way forward, the government of the day will not listen to us and not take it seriously.”
Former council leader George Dunning said he broadly supported the new authority, but said the prospect of an elected mayor was a “really big worry” - a possibility which prompted some members to suggest a veto arrangement should be put in place.
Supporting the combined authority proposal, Saltburn councillor Philip Thomson said Redcar and Cleveland wasn’t sufficiently resourced to achieve what was set out in its masterplan, adding: “We do need help - we need inward investment. Our masterplan says we are going to create 14,000 new jobs - where are they? We cannot do this alone.”
Labour councillor Ian Jeffrey called it “a move in the right direction” while former Labour and Cabinet member, Councillor Mark Hannon, said: “We must take this forward for the benefit of the public. It’s about trying to create jobs, economic development, transportation and regenerating this area.”
Of the handful of opponents to the scheme, East Cleveland independent councillor Steve Kay said a “yes” would amount to “selling the borough for 30 pieces of silver.” He said: “The money will inevitably go to Middlesbrough and Stockton - we should learn to stand on our own feet in this borough.”
Lib Dem councillor Chris Abbott agreed with Cllr Kay it would be “the thin end of the wedge.” He said: “It will be controlled by four or five Labour councillors making decisions under pressure from their own areas.
“It sounds very good but it will not work in practice.”
But the council’s leader, independent member Mary Lanigan, said Redcar and Cleveland couldn’t afford to “stand alone” in the current challenging economic climate.
She said: “Why do some members think we will be gobbled up by Middlesbrough and Stockton? We are Redcar and Cleveland! We have extremely good members and officers who will fight our corner every inch of the way.
“If we don’t go ahead with this, we are going to be sat on the periphery and things will move on without us.”
No vote count was taken, but the recommendation was passed with a large majority.
The combined authority would have a representative member appointed by each council - Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington and Hartlepool. At the time of writing, only Hartlepool had still to vote on whether to approve the draft plan.
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