Yorkshire Mayor on the cards as leaders make devolution breakthrough
Authorities across the region have teamed up in a “coalition of the willing” on Yorkshire Day, and are planning a more inclusive move towards devolution for the first time.
Leaders from Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Hambleton, Harrogate, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby and York councils met last week to discuss proposals that include a Yorkshire major.
They are agreeing to work together for a single deal, spearheaded by a directly-elected major,
It is apt that they announce this on Yorkshire Day, after years of wrangling over the potential make up of a devolved Yorkshire.
However with Sheffield and Rotherham not so far included, it may not be as unified as first thought. They were hit with a bitter battle with Derbyshire County Council over the placing of Chesterfield, which eventually snubbed Sheffield to become part of the East Midlands. It would have meant powers for key services in the town being handed to a Sheffield City Region Mayor.
Sheffield’s own devolution deal was halted by this debacle in the High Court, leaving it behind whilst counterparts in Manchester and Birmingham moved ahead with plans.
Despite this, the announcement today is a move away from more fractured plans for the region.
In a joint statement released today the councils involved said: “Today is Yorkshire Day and therefore it seems right to talk today about our county, its ambitions and our identity. Last Friday, Yorkshire Leaders met in York in a positive and constructive meeting and agreed that they have strong common cause.
“The county is big enough and bold enough to want to carve out its own destiny. Leaders were focussed on increasing productivity and growing an inclusive economy that works for all.
“The Leaders agreed unanimously to form a ‘coalition of the willing’, working towards securing a single ambitious devolution deal for the Yorkshire authorities and areas wanting to work together on this basis.
“This would in the first instance be based on the Government’s present requirements of a directly elected mayor with clear responsibilities yet to be determined. All Leaders present, including Barnsley and Doncaster, supported this approach as well as supporting a deal for Sheffield and Rotherham, should they seek to pursue that as an option.
“It is a Happy Yorkshire Day across the whole of this great and historic county – a county with the potential for as great a future as a past.”
Over the coming weeks, the council leaders will discuss the proposals with colleagues, local stakeholders, businesses, unions and political groups. They aim to meet again in early September to come up with a plan to negotiate with government.
