Yorkshire devolution deal back on table

COUNCIL leaders from across Yorkshire gave their tentative backing to discussions on a county-wide devolution deal after Sheffield announced its mayoral election planned for May was being postponed.

Sheffield City Region has been forced to delay after a High Court judgement required more consultation to be done, while Leeds City Region has been unable to get an agreement with the Government more than two years after the first city region devolution deals were announced by then-Chancellor George Osborne.

The legal challenge was on whether Chesterfield in Derbyshire should join the combined authority, along with Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire.

In the wake of yesterday’s announcement of a postponement, the leader of Barnsley Council, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, and Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones said that Sheffield City Region has received an outline proposal from West Yorkshire for a whole-Yorkshire devolution option.

They said: “We remain committed to working economically across the Sheffield City Region and achieving our ambitious plans for job creation and economic growth. However, we have always said that we wish to secure the best possible devolution deal for Barnsley and Doncaster.

“We will therefore work with colleagues to explore this new Yorkshire-wide option, to ensure we give all potential devolution solutions proper consideration, so that residents can be fully informed when being asked to participate in consultation over the summer months, and that devolution delivers the best possible outcomes for local residents and businesses.”

A statement from West Yorkshire Combined Authority also said: “We have always maintained that the Leeds City Region provides the best basis for devolution by driving growth in the fastest and fairest way and making sure everyone benefits.

“It is vital that we are in a position to shape our own destiny and make the decisions here that affect everyone across our City Region. Nine out of ten decisions about Leeds City Region are taken outside of the area. This highly centralised system has led to gross unfairness. It is completely unacceptable for example that transport spending is seven times higher in London at £1,900 per head than in Yorkshire where it is just £250 per head.”

It said it “believes in a devolution process that is based around economic issues that boost our economy including investment, transport and skills”.

“In this situation, we are willing to consider other options for devolution but these must be based on what is best placed to deliver economic growth and provide real identity and purpose. A Yorkshire deal underpinned by the existing combined authorities is one of these options that could unlock our Leeds City Region deal, along with those of our colleagues in Sheffield City Region, and the North and East of Yorkshire. 

“We are meeting with colleagues across Yorkshire to explore these options so that we get a strong workable economic partnership for the Leeds City region, which delivers the best deal for Yorkshire.”