Tynedale and Ponteland will receive their fair share of benefits from a newly-created authority.

That is the opinion of Northumberland County Council leader Peter Jackson, who will serve the new North of Tyne Combined Authority as the cabinet member responsible for place productivity.

The new authority, which will serve Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, met for the first time last week and leaders were keen to stress that all three areas will be treated equally.

Coun. Jackson, who represents the ward of Ponteland South with Heddon, said: “My portfolio includes all the rural aspects, including rural growth.

“I am the first to recognise the specific needs of rural areas and this role gives us great confidence the authority will support us in our promotion of rural areas.”

Northumberland’s deputy leader, Coun. Wayne Daley, joins Coun. Jackson on the North of Tyne cabinet and will play a key role in developing education across the three areas.

The devolution deal includes a pioneering North of Tyne Education Improvement Challenge to drive up standards in North-East schools – the first of its kind outside London.

The challenge will allow schools to tailor their curriculum to meet local employment opportunities, with Northumberland set to introduce more tourism-led subjects. It is reported that 18 per cent of the county’s economy relies on tourism.

The project will cater for people ‘from the cradle to the grave’, with plans in the pipeline to improve literacy among toddlers and initiatives aimed at further education and adult education.

Coun. Daley said: “This is really significant as it is an opportunity to shape and frame our own future. This is really unique as it will cover from birth to employment.”

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