LEIGH's new Lord and Wigan Council leader, Peter Smith, has been honoured again.

He has taken over at the head of a powerful body charged with promoting the economic and social well-being of the North West.

On Friday he accepted the role as chairman of the Wigan-based North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) at its annual conference in Liverpool.

This is a partnership of local councils, business, trade unions, public sector and voluntary organisations, education and training bodies and further and higher education with a mission to promote the good of the region.

Cllr Smith, leader of Wigan for the past eight years, will respond on behalf of the NWRA to the launch of a new regional strategy by the minister for the regions, Richard Caborn M P and Lord Thomas of Macclesfield, chairman of the North West Development Agency (NWDA).

He said this week that his priorities would be to develop a constructive partnership with the NWDA, especially over regional economic strategy, and work more closely with other English regions.

He said: "I want to build up a profile of the North West as a region with major potential, and to pursue with our partners issues that affect the region as a whole.

"There is a widely shared vision in the north west as to how the region can assert confidence in its own identity and become a better place for its people.

"The way in which we deal with issues such as jobs, skills, transport, health, homes and sustainability will have a far-reaching impact on the 6.9 million citizens of our region."

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