Devolution deal to ‘catapult the region into a premier league of places’ could be agreed early in 2019

The CEO of Sheffield council has set his stall out that the Sheffield City Region should be in a position to move forward with a full devolution deal early in 2019 that would “catapult” the region into the premier league of places.

John Mothersole, CEO of Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield City Region has taken a big step forward, it has a mayor and is only one of four city regions with a mayor. It puts us in the differentiator category. But we can go further and there is an easy step to take and that is to take a devolution deal.

“That automatically doesn’t just draw us down £30m for the next 20 years but actually it catapults us into that premier league of places with a fully fledged devolved arrangement. At the moment, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham have it and Newcastle will probably have it come next May.

“We can make that step and put ourselves into that league.

“Devolution is really important for the direction it takes us in, the immediate resource it gives us and, if you like, the club in which it puts us.”

Mothersole was speaking about the topic as part of an Outlook 2019 seminar hosted in Sheffield by TheBusinessDesk.com, in conjunction with DLA Piper yesterday. He added that the lack of signing the deal had held the region back but he looked at this as a “pause”. He said: “It seems to be seen that if the deal is done in Sheffield then somehow one couldn’t then do a Yorkshire deal and the two are not exclusive. You can do one and still works towards the other. We have never said we are against a Yorkshire deal, we have just said let’s grab the bird in the hand and if there is another one in the bush we will go for that one as well.”

The council CEO concluded the session by stating: “There is no guaranteed timeline but once a month the full council of Sheffield sits and that day this month is tomorrow. [Today, December 5]

“There is a motion going to the council that calls upon the mayor to bring forward a devolution deal by the end of January 2019. So, while we can’t make that happen, someone has put a date on it now.”

Asked by a delegate what was stopping other councils, including Barnsley and Doncaster, sign for the deal, Mothersole said while he couldn’t speak for the other councils, there was a feeling that there “is a Yorkshire geography that might lead to a deal that they feel may be more appropriate.”

“And they feel that focus should be on that with equal effort as focus on the Sheffield City Region deal.

H added: “This deal has been signed off at least three times but hasn’t been taken over the line.”

It is being worked on hard to get it over the line but needs support from the four leaders, he explained before concluding: “Let’s see what January brings. My leader would say that if we were to put the deal in front of her now,  she would sign it.”

Meanwhile Sheffield City Region’s Mayor released a statement about moving forward the devolution agreement. Dan Jarvis MP said: “Since being elected I have worked to establish the Sheffield City Region as a Mayoral Combined Authority, implement the manifesto on which I was elected, and reach a consensus on how to advance devolution both in the Sheffield City Region and across Yorkshire.

“I want to see powers agreed and funding released so that we can drive our economy forward and improve the lives of our residents. It is deeply frustrating that we have not secured more progress on this matter.

“The implementation of the Sheffield  City Region devolution deal requires agreement from every local authority in South Yorkshire, the Government and from me as Mayor. I have encouraged all the local authority leaders to engage in a constructive dialogue, and I am in ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government over how best to advance this process.

“Yesterday, I had a productive meeting with the Secretary of State and the Northern Powerhouse Minister, and was pleased to hear the level of consideration the Government are giving to both the One Yorkshire deal and advancing devolution in the Sheffield City Region.

“I will now discuss the next steps with local authority leaders, and as a matter of urgency, write to the Secretary of State outlining a proposed way forward.”

The Outlook 2019 series is a joint campaign between TheBusinessDesk.com and DLA Piper taking place in five cities across the North and Midlands, looking at the performance of city regions and issues including connectivity, inward investment and skills.

Full coverage to follow.