A LIVERPOOL City Region devolution deal and possible elected mayor will not jeopardise the independence of Runcorn and Widnes, it has been claimed.

The leader of Halton Council has reassured residents that the borough will retain its own mayor and identity.

The combined authority, made up of Halton, St Helens, Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral and Sefton councils has submitted a wish list of powers they want to secure from the government.

These will form part of the 2015 comprehensive spending review as Merseyside authorities seek more control from Whitehall over budgets and resources.

Council leaders want more decision making powers to accelerate economic growth, improve public services and social outcomes and create better health and wellbeing for residents.

But any deal comes with the possibility of introducing an elected mayor.

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill said: “An elected mayor would have no say in Halton and no powers will be taken away from us.

“It will not affect the sovereignty of Halton.”

He stressed that until all the details are available, no decisions will be made.

Cllr Polhill said: “We have lawyers and senior people who will be scrutinising all the detail.

“There are a lot of unknowns at the moment.

“It has got to be right for Halton. What we can’t do is sacrifice anything.

“Once we know exactly what it will mean, we will have a special debate.”

He said Merseyside authorities already work closely together on many issues including transport.

Negotiations will follow until mid November when details of what is on offer will be shared with individual local authorities.

Residents and businesses will be encouraged to have their say.

Formal implementation of any governance arrangements would come into effect from April 2017 at the earliest.