BOLTON Council leader Cliff Morris has taken up a new role with Greater Manchester’s top team — as the region prepares for devolution.

Cllr Morris will now take the lead on services for children, moving away from his previous position heading up the health portfolio on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The roles and responsibilities for the top team were confirmed last week — made up of the 10 council leaders and interim Greater Manchester Mayor Tony Lloyd.

The leaders are now expected to “drive forward” the region’s strategy for growth and reform.

This comes following the signing of a historic devolution deal with the government last year, which will see local leaders take on new powers for the region in key areas such as health, transport and business.

Cllr Morris said he will still play a key role in the delivery of Healthier Together — a major reform of health and social services in Greater Manchester.

He said: “I will still be very involved with the health work, but I want to raise the profile of children’s services.

“It is a new role and I feel that the government agenda has forgotten the under-5s — I want to bring them back into the thinking.

“If you get a child at a young age and help them, then while it may take 15-20 years to see, there will be improvements later on.”

He added: “There is also a lot we can do with adolescents and in the area of mental health with young people — that should be taken more seriously.

“I will be staying in the health team, but I want to focus on the children of our region.”

New Bolton Council chief executive Paul Najsarek has also landed a new role with the authority, supporting Mr Lloyd in the area of public sector reform.

Mr Lloyd, who has taken on the interim mayoral role before a permanent figure is elected, said the lead-up to the arrival of devolved powers represents a “pivotal moment” for Greater Manchester.

He added: “We are striving to ensure that the greater influence we’ve secured for the area through devolution is translated into an improved quality of life for people here — linking them with better health, transport, housing, employment and other opportunities within a thriving economy.

“The GMCA portfolio leads for each subject area will come together as one team to drive forward this vision.”