HALTON is set to join an historic £900 million devolution deal with Liverpool city region today.

Communities Minister Greg Clark and Treasury commercial secretary Jim O’Neill are set to sign the agreement alongside leaders in Liverpool this morning.

The combined authority, made up of Halton, St Helens, Liverpool, Knowsley and the Wirral, is expected to become the fifth major northern city to be given new Whitehall powers.

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill spent an hour discussing the northern powerhouse plans with Merseyside leaders and Treasury Minister Lord O’Neill in Whitehall last week.

He has said that the deal depends on the approval of the full council which is holding a special debate on the issue at Runcorn Town Hall on Thursday, November 19.

However, the government has announced the deal today.

Liverpool devolution means that voters will choose a directly elected Mayor in 2017 who will take on a raft of new powers from Whitehall and hand them back to local people.

This includes power over local transport budgets and franchised bus services and increased responsibility over employment support and skills provision.

Chancellor George Osborne said: “Today is a historic day for the Liverpool city region and a historic day for the northern powerhouse.

“This revolutionary deal cements the area’s position as a gateway to the north, from North Wales all the way to Newcastle and gives local people control over their own affairs for the first time.

“In becoming the fifth northern city region to take on these new powers, the momentum of the northern powerhouse is now simply unstoppable.

“I want to thank the council leaders for working together to come to an agreement which will give Liverpool city region a powerful new voice in national life.”

The deal includes control over investment worth £30m a year for the next 30 years.

The Government says £900m will help unlock the huge economic potential of the iconic River Mersey and the new Superport as well as maximising the opportunities from HS2.

The deal also includes support for Liverpool’s strengths in attracting major international events, with backing for the city’s International Festival for Business as well as its cultural attractions, with plans to establish a sustainable business model for National Museums Liverpool.

Communities Minister Greg Clark said: "This one nation government is determined to ensure power is devolved from Whitehall to local people, to put an end to the old north-south divide and rebalance our economy.

“This Liverpool city region deal demonstrates how local leaders are embracing this opportunity to have a direct hand in shaping the future of their area, whether in skills, transport or housing.

“It’s vital that the people of the Liverpool city region – and the Northern Powerhouse as a whole – have the best possible representation on the national and international stage.”

The new directly elected Liverpool city region Mayor will act as chairman to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.