South Yorkshire councils unable to reach devolution agreement

Leaders of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield councils have failed to reach an agreement to move forward devolution for South Yorkshire.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Combined Authority, the leaders discussed plans to initiate public consultation on mayoral powers relating to devolution for South Yorkshire.

Barnsley and Doncaster councils support a One Yorkshire devolution deal which combines 15 other councils in the region, not that of a South Yorkshire devolution package which Sheffield and Rotherham are supporting.

Despite this, a mayoral election is still due to take place next year but the elected mayor will have less powers.

A spokesman for the Sheffield City Region said: “As things stand, a mayoral election is still set to go ahead in May 2018, to elect a mayor for the SCR Combined Authority.

“This mayor will chair the Combined Authority, have equivalent voting rights to existing local authorities at its meetings, and also have some powers relating to bus franchising.”

The meeting saw eight proposals put to the councils in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield was first given the chance to have a mayor in 2015 and since then Yorkshire politicians have struggled to reach agreement on devolution.

Devolution deals have been agreed in several other regions across the country, making decisions about areas including planning and transport from the government.