‘Bespoke' devolution deals have enormous potential to transform the efficient delivery of public services, the County Council Network (CCN) chairman has said, but fears remain over the ‘one-size-fits-all' approach to county governance.

The announcement comes in the same week a major Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report – commissioned by CCN – told the Government to accept that other models of accountability beyond elected mayors might be more appropriate for county areas.