English councils are calling for greater transport powers following Scotland's rejection of independence last week.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, is urging Government to set out a timetable for devolution.

It says a Constitutional Convention is needed to debate and agree a settlement for a range of public services. This includes the devolution of funding and decisions on transport, skills and development to English cities and counties.

“The Scottish referendum has clearly demonstrated that there is a real appetite for the devolution of powers from Westminster which does not stop at the border,” said Local Government Association chairman David Sparks.

“New powers that Scotland will now receive must be given to local areas in England.”

Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield said that the Scottish referendum result reinforces the belief that further devolution must happen. "We will continue to call for significantly more devolution from Whitehall, in terms of greater decision making powers and financial control including local tax retention.

“This is vital if we are to be able to take the local action we need to improve transport connections between different economic markets.”

At the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on Monday the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls weighed into the debate, asking delegates: “Why should a transport minister in Westminster make decisions about all the transport needs of Birmingham, Newcastle or Leeds?”

He added that Labour would devolve power to Scotland, Wales and to city and country regions across England. And he suggested that his party's plans for a new National Infrastructure Commission would end the "dither and delay" on big decisions such as expanding airport capacity in the South East.

On Sunday the party's Shadow Communities & Local Government Secretary Hilary Benn set out plans to take £30Bn from Whitehall over five years and pass it to local communities for investing in services including "trams, buses, the railways and the roads".

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