Big step forward for city region devolution deal

The Sheffield City Region devolution deal has today been agreed by the city’s mayor and all four council leaders and will now proceed to public consultation.

Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are very pleased to have got to the point where we can do this devolution deal.

“We have always been clear that this is the best deal for the people of Sheffield and the wider city region, and will also be the key to opening further doors to access more funding from different sources.

“This is a deal for people, in particular young people across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, and it will enable us to invest in their skills and equip them to take jobs in growing sectors. It’s about investing in infrastructure, including transport links, and supporting local businesses to become good employers and provide jobs.

“But at the heart of all this is investment in the future for people who live, work and learn in Sheffield.”

A joint statement released by mayor Dan Jarvis, major Ros Jones and councillors Julie Dore, Steve Houghton and Chris Read added: “We’re pleased to announce the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed he will be working with us to progress devolution.

“Subject to the Sheffield City Region devolution deal being advanced to a positive conclusion, he has also agreed to progress discussions on the role and functions of a Committee of Leaders from across Yorkshire, based on the existing Yorkshire Leaders Board.

“All South Yorkshire councils will have the opportunity to join any full Yorkshire devolution arrangement if they choose to do so.

“We will be considering a paper at the Mayoral Combined Authority meeting on Monday 27 January and, subject to final agreement at that meeting, we will be launching a public consultation on the proposals.

“This represents a significant step forward in securing additional powers and resources for our region.”

Also responding to the agreement, Northern Powerhouse Partnership director, Henri Murison, said: “The Northern Powerhouse needs strong economic regions and the Metro Mayor Dan Jarvis deserves enormous credit for progressing the devolution deal for Sheffield City Region to implementation with powers and funding – a critical step towards our mission to secure mayoral devolution across Yorkshire and a hundred per cent of the wider North.

“Devolution with the further powers we need, allows faster, more responsive decision making and delivery, stimulating economies and better addressing the causes of social problems, not just dealing with their consequences.

“The productivity increases we need to make the North more prosperous depend on those like Dan Jarvis and we have every confidence in his ability to deliver.

“We will see locally controlled and more effective skills system, improved local transport and further industrial strategy interventions across R&D, as we have seen with the private sector and research investment being secured on the back of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and Dan Jarvis and his team’s wider work since his election.

“This devolution framework can truly deliver for people, communities and businesses right across Sheffield City Region.

“As a business led organisation we look forward to working with the Committee of Leaders from across Yorkshire in the future, and will seek to work with them on the areas they choose to focus on as we have done engaging positively with the current leaders board.”