On the 11^th 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). A report went to Executive on the 24^th March which outlined the details of the devolution deal, its benefits for Bradford District, its people and its businesses and set out the required next steps.

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:

·               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.

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

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

·               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 Council are currently working with Born in Bradford to examine how the proposal might be shaped in light of the response to the Coronavirus pandemic 

In addition to this, we are working with Combined Authorities on developing these commitments in the context of the impact of the recent COVID pandemic.

The proposed deal from the Government requires a number of governance changes. It requires that there will be a directly elected Mayor for West Yorkshire to be elected in May 2021. It will also unlock a number of central Government powers and funding to allow more local and accountable decision making.

The report approved by Executive on the 24^th March 2020 endorsed the “minded to” deal on behalf of Bradford District and agreed for a statutory review to be undertaken jointly with the other West Yorkshire Councils and the Combined Authority and for a draft Governance scheme to be produced for consideration.

This activity has now taken place and is attached to the report of the Chief Executive (Document “BP”). This includes the statutory Review (appendix 1 to Document “BP”) and a draft governance Scheme (appendix 2 to Document “BP”).

All WYCA Constituent Councils (including CBMDC) need to endorse the review and Scheme at this point so a consultation can take place which will be led by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Executive will receive a further report in due course to consider the outcome of this consultation.

Recommended –

(1)       To consider the Governance Review attached as Appendix 1 to Document “BP” and endorse its conclusions, including that an Order under S104 and S105 in relation to the changes to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 125

Resolved –

(1)       That the Governance Review attached as Appendix 1 to Document “BP” was considered and its conclusions endorsed, including that an Order under S104 and S105 in relation to the changes to constitutional arrangements considered in the Review and the delegation of additional functions to the Combined Authority would be likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions in relation to the Combined Authority’s area.

(2)       That the draft Scheme for the establishment of the Mayoral Combined Authority, attached as Appendix 2 to Document “BP” was considered and commented on.

(3)       That it be agreed that a public consultation exercise is undertaken on the proposals contained in the Scheme and comments invited on the draft consultation questions, which are attached as Appendix 3 to Document “BP”.

(4)       That it be agreed that engagement with the Combined Authority and other Constituent Councils should progress as described in Document “BP” and that the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Leader of this Council, be authorised to take any steps to finalise the Scheme and progress the public consultation exercise as set out above.  

(5)       That the updated timetable set out in Appendix 4 to Document “BP” and the next steps including, subject to the approval by the Constituent Councils and Combined Authority, the submission of a summary of the consultation responses to the Secretary of State in August/September 2020 and subsequently the need to consent to any draft Order in September 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 be noted.

(6)       That this decision is exempt from call-in on the grounds of urgency, for the reasons set out in paragraph 10.1 of Document “BP”.

ACTION: Chief Executive

On the 11^th March 2020, the Chancellor announced a “minded to” Mayoral Devolution Deal for the West Yorkshire area (which would cover the Local Authority areas of Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford). A report went to Executive on the 24^th March which outlined the details of the devolution deal, its benefits for Bradford District, its people and its businesses and set out the required next steps.

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

Specific commitments for Bradford District included:

·               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.

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

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

·               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 Council are currently working with Born in Bradford to examine how the proposal might be shaped in light of the response to the Coronavirus pandemic 

In addition to this, the Council was working with the Combined Authority on developing these commitments in the context of the impact of the COVID pandemic.

The proposed deal from the Government required a number of governance changes. It required that there would be a directly elected Mayor for West Yorkshire to be elected in May 2021. It would also unlock a number of central Government powers and funding to allow more local and accountable decision making.

The report approved by Executive on the 24^th March 2020 endorsed the “minded to” deal on behalf of Bradford District and agreed for a statutory review to be undertaken jointly with the other West Yorkshire Councils and the Combined Authority and for a draft Governance scheme to be produced for consideration.

This activity had now taken place and was attached to the report of the Chief Executive (Document “BP”). This included the statutory Review (appendix 1 to Document “BP”) and a draft governance Scheme (appendix 2 to Document “BP”).

All WYCA Constituent Councils (including CBMDC) were required to endorse the review and Scheme at this point so a consultation could take place which would be led by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Executive would receive a further report in due course to consider the outcome of this consultation.

The Leader emphasised that the devolution deal would put West Yorkshire in the same powerful position as other devolved areas such as Manchester and the West Midlands with significant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125