A DEAL to devolve more powers from Whitehall to the Liverpool city region has moved a step closer.

Halton Council’s leader joined the five council leaders from Merseyside for talks in London yesterday.

They spent an hour discussing the contentious plans - which include an elected mayor for Liverpool - with Treasury Minister Lord Jim O’Neill.

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

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill said: “It was a positive meeting.

“We negotiated certain issues. It was very fruitful.”

He says devolution would give the region more influence over economic investment, transport, skills, housing, innovation, business growth, energy, culture and the EU.

But, he stressed that nothing has been agreed until he discusses all the issues with the full council.

Each of the six leaders will now meet with their respective councils on Thursday, November 19 for a special debate.

If they all ratify devolution, a directly elected mayor for the Liverpool region could be implemented in 2017.

Cllr Polhill added: “An elected mayor would have no say in Halton and no powers will be taken away from us. We will have our own sovereignty.

“It will not affect our boundaries.

“We are already working together in the Liverpool city region.

“What this means for us is that Whitehall would give us more power over issues that are important to people locally.”