Councillors will be asked to back a seismic shake-up of local government when they meet next week, as part of a proposed new devolution deal.

Cheshire West and Chester's full council convenes for an extraordinary meeting next Tuesday (September 9), where members will be asked to give their stamp of approval for a proposed new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CA), complete with elected mayor.

If approved, it will then go before cabinet the next day for town hall bosses to give their sign-off.

The devolution plan is one of several being pursued nationally and would be loosely modelled on the combined authorities currently operating in Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

The new Cheshire and Warrington CA would bestride Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington local government areas.

Each of those areas would retain their own councils, their own council budgets and workforces.

But the CA would serve as an extra layer on top of that, with a directly elected mayor – similar to Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram – who would act as the face of the area.

He or she would, in theory, be able to push the local agenda with business and Government.

They would also have their hands on certain levers of spending and decision-making, such as transport, housing, skills and economic development.

Critics have branded devolution unnecessary and costly added bureaucracy, but backers say it would make it easier to push the Cheshire and Warrington agenda on the national and global stage, bringing in more investment.

If approved, the council would agree to hold the first mayoral elections in May 2027.

A Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority 'Shadow Board' would also be created, consisting of the leaders and deputy leaders from each of the three councils - who would provide interim strategic direction until the CA itself is up and running.

A report to the council said: "Cheshire and Warrington has one of the most productive economies in the UK, with output per head 25 per cent higher than Greater Manchester and 50 per cent higher than in Liverpool City Region. "

But it added there were challenges such as large numbers of working age adults who are sick and disabled, a shortage of people with the skills needed by employers, 28,000 children living in poverty and a 16-year gap in healthy life expectancy between the least and most prosperous areas in the subregion.

It added: "Areas with devolved governance arrangements through combined authorities with a mayor are best placed to receive Government support, maximise private investment and to deliver maximum impact for businesses, communities and residents - with the scale and focus that these devolved arrangements bring."

Approval will also be required from Cheshire East and Warrington Borough Councils.