Councillor Tony Sharps, Deputy Leader of Flintshire County Council and Executive Member for Environment, is this year’s elected Chairman of the Mersey Dee Alliance.
The Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) is a collaborative body across the North West England and North East Wales border which recognises the strong economic links between North East Wales, West Cheshire and Wirral. The MDA links transport policy and planning across the border, and supports SME businesses operating over the travel to work area through its Innovation Network. It also supports skills development in key sectors by brokering relationships with schools, universities and colleges, and value added and high tech businesses.
The MDA shares valuable information and initiatives and acts as a strategic influencing voice in Westminster and the Welsh Assembly.
Councillor Sharps is also Chairman of TAITH, which is wholly and directly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and is the body responsible for all transport activities in North Wales.
Councillor Sharps brings over 44 years of Local Authority experience to the role of Chairman and will be in a unique position alongside elected members from Wrexham and Denbighshire to ensure that issues in North East Wales are fairly represented.
Councillor Sharps said:
“It is a great honour for me to have been elected to such a prestigious position and I am looking forward to working with colleagues from across the border. The theme of my term in office will be – business knows no boundaries.
“I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing chairman, Councillor Denis Knowles, who has worked tirelessly for the North East Wales, West Cheshire and Wirral areas, overseeing such projects as the launch of the MDA Innovation Network which was opened by another illustrious local politician, Lord Barry Jones, and the Make It In Manufacturing schools challenge events.”
