THE bid for devolved powers will be made based on the boundaries of Leeds City Region and not a combined Yorkshire when the proposals are submitted by Friday’s deadline.
West Yorkshire’s council leaders have agreed on an area that covers Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield plus the North Yorkshire districts of Craven, Harrogate, Selby and the City of York.
They believe this is a “functional” economic area – meaning it reflects how businesses operate and people travel to work – and as the largest city region economy outside London is appropriate to receive devolved powers and funding.
Leeds City Region generates £57.7bn of economic output and has a population of 2.8m, over 92% of whom also work within its area.
The government has continued to make clear it will insist on the introduction of an elected metro-mayor, which has so far been resisted by West Yorkshire authorities, although they are now prepared to give it “serious consideration” if what it terms as “real power” is devolved from Whitehall.
The bid will include requests for powers covering transport, housing, business support, skills as well as revenue-raising powers to fund major infrastructure projects.
