Combined Authority merger on the cards in East Yorkshire

AN independent commission has called for a Combined Authority for Humber, with a merger of East Riding and Hull councils.

The commission, which was overseen by the Institute of Local Government Studies, said that East Yorkshire needs to take into account the “rapidly developing Government agenda on devolution and the Northern Powerhouse.”

It said that with Northern Powerhouse and Enterprise Zone developments in mind, it believes that there is “a powerful case for a Combined Authority based on the Humber, providing focus for the development of the economy, distribution networks, infrastructure and environmental matters centred on it”.

Chamber president Steve Eastwood welcomed the report. He said: “This is a compelling and profoundly important report from some of the most eminent and respected people in our community – I commend it to the Government as a blueprint for action.”

The existing boundary has the effect of making Hull look like a small city of 256,000, with up to 240,000 people and 2,700 businesses left out of the picture.

‘Greater Hull’ should be considered as being a city of around 500,000 according to the commission.

The chairman of the Hull Commission, Tom Martin said: “Our report seeks to provide Hull and the East Riding with a springboard for action and an acceleration and deepening of co-operation between the two councils.

“Hull has huge potential for economic development, the East Riding currently provides much of the space for this to happen and in turn Hull provides the key urban facilities for much of the whole area.”