North East Combined Authority (2014–2024)

NECA was established in 2014 by statutory instrument under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It had some powers over economic development and regeneration.

It was announced in October 2015 that NECA would receive an enhanced devolution settlement and elect a mayor in 2017. These plans were later cancelled by the Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid on 8 September 2016 after Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Sunderland Councils withdrew their support.

The councils supportive of a mayoral deal (Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland) withdrew from NECA as a result and formed the North of Tyne Combined Authority which would have a directly elected mayor. For transport policy, the members of both combined authorities continued with a North East Joint Transport Committee.

In May 2024, NECA and North of Tyne Combined Authority were both abolished and replaced with the larger North East Mayoral Combined Authority, effectively reverting to the geographic area of the pre-2018 NECA.

History

In order to create a combined authority, the local authorities in the proposed area must undertake a governance review and produce a scheme of their proposals.

At the first meeting of NECA on 15 April 2014, Simon Henig, the Leader of Durham County Council, was elected as chair.

Upon formation, the functions, property, rights and liabilities of the former Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority were inherited by NECA, forming an executive body within the new authority as the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive.

Naming

The order which established NECA referred to it as the Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority, simply listing the names of the constituent councils in alphabetical order. The initial consultation used the name Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Combined Authority. The body uses the name NECA. The legal name of the authority was changed to Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority in November 2018.