However, a council leader in the North East has warned local councils must themselves be handed greater resources if the Prime Minister’s promise is to have “meaningful” results – rather than concentrating power in mayors’ hands. Ms McGuinness sat next to the Chancellor at last week’s National Economic Council meeting at No 10 North. “The North East is well placed to drive growth, but we are starting from a different position to many parts of the country after decades of industrial change and underinvestment. “We need to talk about councils like Newcastle and the meaningful devolution of powers and fiscal responsibility going to local communities.” She said: “I do think there is an argument for certain powers in the right places to go directly to local councils as well.