BOLTON residents will vote for a directly elected mayor of Greater Manchester — under groundbreaking devolution plans announced by Chancellor George Osborne.

The leaders of the 10 Greater Manchester authorities, including Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris, signed a deal with the government designed to make the region the heart of a new "northern powerhouse".

The new mayor — who will be installed in 2017 — will oversee the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), a body made up of the leaders of the region’s 10 local authorities.

Mr Osborne described the announcement as a “massive moment” for the north of England.

He insisted the creation of a Greater Manchester mayor would not take power away from Bolton, which will continue to set its own priorities locally.

He said: "Decisions taken in Bolton that are currently taken in Bolton will go on being taken in Bolton.

“But decisions currently taken in London that affect Bolton are now going to be taken in Greater Manchester, including representatives of course of Bolton on the combined authority."

Under the plans, the mayor will have a transport budget and responsibility for franchised bus services — as well as the introduction of an Oyster card-style ticketing system allowing people to transfer more easily between buses, trains and trams.

The body will also be given more freedom to guide new developments across the region.

The mayor will also have control of a new Housing Investment fund, worth up to £300 million, which will deliver an additional 15,000 homes over a 10 year period.

They will also oversee public service reform — combining health and social care — to reduce pressure on A&E departments.

The existing police and crime commissioner’s role — currently held by Tony Lloyd — will be merged with the new mayor’s role.

Mr Osborne added: "This is about power moving from London to Greater Manchester, not about power moving from Bolton to Manchester city centre.

“And when you look at the jobs, the lives of people in places like Bolton, of course they may travel into the city, they may have jobs in another part of Greater Manchester.

“By having a single transport budget and the possibility of an Oyster-style travel card, that’s going to mean a real improvement in quality of life, how long it takes to get to work, as well as hopefully more opportunities for people because there will be more jobs, more business locating to Bolton and across the Greater Manchester area.”

Under the agreement, the GMCA will receive extra powers for business support, skills and health and social care.

On public service issues, each of the leaders of the 10 authorities, all members of GMCA, and the mayor will each have one vote, and policy will be agreed by a majority vote.

The directly-elected mayor will be responsible for the new powers in relation to transport, planning, housing and policy, but he or she will be required to consult the GMCA cabinet on their strategies.

If two thirds of the cabinet vote against their strategies, they will be rejected.

The GMCA cabinet will also be able to examine the mayor’s spending plans and will be able to amend them.

Cllr Morris said: "I hadn’t been in favour of an elected mayor for Greater Manchester, but under this system they will be a mayor in name alone — the cabinet still has a vote.

"I didn’t want one because of London. We didn’t know what powers they would have and I didn’t want a two-tier system.

“However this is a single tier system where all the leaders across Greater Manchester will form the mayor's cabinet, each with a portfolio.

“All the powers are coming down from London, there’s none going up from local authorities, and that’s a big thing that changed my mind.

“This is just the start of a long process.

“Bolton residents will see a difference if we get the skills budget, and we can start deregulating transport. Those are good things that will affect Bolton.”

Sean Harriss, chief executive of Bolton Council, said the authority will do everything it can to make sure the town gets the most out of the new deal.

He said: “The proposed devolution of powers on the table offers an opportunity for Greater Manchester, including Bolton, to take control over the influence of key policy areas which will help improve prosperity, jobs, growth and services.

“Greater Manchester only works if all parts of the city region contribute to driving economic growth jobs and prosperity.

“We will make sure that Bolton benefits from the opportunity that’s on offer.”