Metro Mayor Andy Burnham paid tribute to the ex-leader of Bolton Council Martyn Cox as he confirmed the portfolios for the members of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Mr Burnham said Cllr Cox, the only Conservative Party member of the GMCA, made a 'great contribution' to the authority in his role as the lead member for the Green City-Region.

Nick Peel, the new leader of Bolton Council, is not taking over the role as the lead member for the Green City-Region, which is turning to Tom Ross of Trafford Council instead. Cllr Peel is responsible for the Digital City-Region.

Mr Burnham paid tribute to Cllr Cox, as well as to Amanda Chadderton, the ex-leader of Oldham Council who lost her seat at the local elections and who was replaced by Arooj Shah.

READ MORE: Call for Bolton to return to Lancashire could not be ignored.

Mr Burnham said: "I would like to pay tribute to departing Greater Manchester Combined Authority members Martyn Cox and Amanda Chadderton. They made a great contribution to the Combined Authority in the areas of Green City-Region and Equalities and Communities. I wish them well.

"We now welcome Cllr Nick Peel as lead for Digital City-Region and we welcome back Cllr Arooj Shah as lead for Equalities and Communities.

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"They and our other members will work with me to deliver our ambitious and exciting programme, including using the new levers we secured under the Trailblazer Devolution Deal. 

"I look forward to working with our leaders to make a positive difference in the lives of people who live, work and visit our city-region," he added.

READ MORE: Keir Starmer addresses rumours of tension with Andy Burnham.

The GMCA consists of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the leaders of the 10 Greater Manchester councils.

Here are the portfolios for the members of the GMCA:

Andy Burnham (Mayor) - Policy, Reform and Transport
Kate Green (Deputy Mayor) - Safer and Stronger Communities
Nick Peel (Bolton) - Digital City-Region
Eamonn O’Brien (Bury) - Technical Education and Skills
Bev Craig (Manchester) - Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth
Arooj Shah (Oldham) - Equalities and Communities
Neil Emmott (Rochdale) - Culture
Paul Dennett (Salford) - Healthy Lives and Homelessness
Mark Hunter (Stockport) - Children and Young People
Ged Cooney (Tameside) - Housing
Tom Ross (Trafford) - Green City-Region
David Molyneux (Wigan) - Resources and Investment

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.