Council leader says devolution negotiations have reached ‘final stages’
A draft devolution deal for Hull and the East Riding is now “on the table” according to the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Councillor Anne Handley said it is expected the Chancellor’s autumn statement on 22 November will reveal the draft deal for Hull and East Yorkshire.
Cllr Handley added: “I have repeatedly stated that a mayoral combined authority is absolutely the right way forward for our region, ensuring we have more funding and power to make important decisions at a local level and put East Yorkshire in control of its own destiny.
“We do not want to be the only area of Yorkshire without a devolution deal, or miss out on the greater powers and funding that are only open to devolved areas.
“We want to be trailblazers and tap into the opportunities that Manchester and the West Midlands have access to.
“However, I have always made it clear that it has to be the right deal for our area.
“At this stage in the negotiations, following several meetings with Jacob Young, the Minister for Levelling Up, and Michael Gove, the Secretary of State, I am confident that we will have the right deal to begin our devolution journey.”
Over the coming weeks and months, the council will be asked to review the draft deal and proposal documents, at the same time as authorising a public consultation.
A consultation will follow, open to all residents and stakeholders in both Hull and the East Riding.
The results of the consultation will then be analysed and compiled into a report, which will be presented to the council.
Councillors will be asked whether or not they should submit the proposal to the Government to create a new Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Cllr Handley stressed the draft deal remains confidential until announced by the Government.
But she also said: “I would point councillors to the Government’s published devolution framework, which provides a useful summary of powers, functions and funding opportunities available to mayoral combined authorities and I look forward to sharing the details of the deal as soon as I can.”
