Local democracy

Issue - meetings

DEVOLUTION

Meeting: 24/03/2020 - Executive (Item 108)

108 DEVOLUTION DEAL FOR WEST YORKSHIRE - REVIEW OF GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS pdf icon PDF 152 KB

On the 11th March 2020, the Chancellor announced a “minded to” Mayoral Devolution Deal for the West Yorkshire area (which covers the Local Authority areas of Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford).

 

This devolution deal unlocks revenue and capital funding worth £1.8 billion over the next 30 years. It follows similar deals in metropolitan areas including Greater Manchester and the West Midlands and will be the largest per person deal to date. The deal includes commitments on transport, business support, skills, innovation and tackling climate emergency.

 

Specific commitments for Bradford District include:

 

o   An additional £500,000 in direct funding to help Bradford Council develop a masterplan for Bradford city centre, maximising regeneration opportunities from Northern Powerhouse Rail.

o   A package of measures to transform Bradford City Centre through pedestrianisation, new cycle infrastructure and better access to Bradford Interchange

o   A new park-and-ride for South Bradford providing alternative access to the city centre and key employment sites

o   Support for an ActEarly research hub (building on the Born in Bradford work at Bradford Royal Infirmary) which focuses on early interventions in childhood health to improve lives and opportunities for children and their families. 

 

The proposed deal from the Government requires a number of governance changes . It is required that there will be a directly elected Mayor for West Yorkshire to be elected by May 2021. It will also unlock a number of central Government powers and funding to allow more local and accountable decision making.  There are now a number of governance steps to take to ensure we can take advantage of this deal.  The report of the Chief Executive (Document “BG”) outlines the next steps of this process

 

 

This report seeks members endorsement to the “minded to” Deal. It also

seeks authority for a statutory Review to be undertaken jointly by Constituent

Councils and the Combined Authority, and for a further report to be prepared

in due course to include a draft Scheme for consideration (subject to the

outcome of the Review).

 

Recommended -

 

(1)       To note and endorse the Deal agreed and attached as Appendix 1        to Document “BG”.

 

(2)       To agree that City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council should be party, together with the four other Constituent Councils of Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield and with the Combined Authority to a review of the Combined  Authority’s constitutional arrangements and of the functions carried out by the Combined Authority over the Combined Authority’s area, as set out in paragraph 2 of this report and pursuant to S111 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

 

(3)       To authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Executive of the other Constituent Councils and the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, to carry out the Review on behalf of each Constituent Council and the Combined Authority.

 

(4)       To authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Executive of the other Constituent Councils and the Managing Director of the Combined Authority to prepare a  ...  view the full agenda text for item 108

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommended -

 

(1)       To note and endorse the Deal agreed and attached as Appendix 1 to  Document “BG”.

 

(2)       To agree that City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council should be party, together with the four other Constituent Councils of Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield and with the Combined Authority to a review of the Combined  Authority’s constitutional arrangements and of the functions carried out by the Combined Authority over the Combined Authority’s area, as set out in paragraph 2 of this report and pursuant to S111 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

 

(3)       That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Executive of the other Constituent Councils and the Managing Director of the Combined Authority,  carry out the Review on behalf of each Constituent Council and the Combined Authority.

 

(4)       That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Executive of the other Constituent Councils and the Managing Director of the Combined Authority  prepare a draft Scheme for consideration by the Constituent Councils and the Combined Authority, subject to the outcome of the Review.

 

(5)       To note the provisional timetable set out in Appendix 4 to this report and the next steps including, if appropriate, the submission of a summary of the consultation to the Secretary of State by the end of July 2020, so that a mayoral combined authority model and associated changes may be adopted and implemented by May 2021, as set out in the Deal.

 

(6)       That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader  take any necessary steps/decisions in the exceptional circumstances where there is disruption/cancellation of decision making Executive/Council meetings up until but not including the decision to give required consent to an Order (step 5 of para 3.4.4 to Document “BG”).