On 11 March 2020, the Chancellor announced a “minded to” Mayoral

Devolution Deal for the West Yorkshire area (which covered the Local

Authority areas of Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees and

Calderdale). A report was submitted to Executive on 24 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.

The detail of the proposed changes to the governance arrangements

required for implementation of the deal were reported to Executive on

19 May. It required that there will be a directly elected Mayor for West

Yorkshire to be elected in May 2021.

The reports which went to Executive in March and May 2020 endorsed

the “minded to” deal on behalf of Bradford District; approved a

statutory review to be undertaken jointly with the other West Yorkshire

Councils and the Combined Authority; provided for a draft Governance

scheme to be produced for consideration; and agreed a consultation to

take place in June and July 2020 on the devolution proposals and its governance.

Once the consultation was completed a summary of the outcome was

reported to Executive on 8 September 2020. Due consideration was

given to the comments and suggestions made and it was not proposed

that anything was raised which required representations to be made for

significant changes to the proposals.

All the constituent authorities agreed to submit a summary of the

responses to the Secretary of State for Communities in order to

progress the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Devolution

Deal.

The Chief Executive submitted a report (Executive Document “CO”)

which sought to:

•           Consent in principle to the draft Order, to establish a mayoral combined authority and associated changes as set out in the ‘minded to’ Devolution Deal.

•           Delegate authority to the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Leader and Chief Executive of CBMDC and each Constituent Council and the Chair of the Combined Authority, to finalise and consent to the final draft of the Order further to any technical issues which may arise.

The Leader stated that this was the second phase of the work that was

now required as part of the devolution process.  Following consultation

on the proposals and the benefits that would accrue both in terms of

additional resources and devolved power, a positive number of

responses had been received to the consultation that was undertaken

earlier in the year, with the majority expressing support.

She added that the additional funding would go towards improving

transport; skills and the environment.  That this was much needed in

the context of the current pandemic and our ability to plan and steer a

way through the post Covid world. To this end, Bradford had already

made great strides in implementing an economic recovery plan.

The Chief Executive echoed the sentiments expressed by the Leader

and stated that the benefits devolution would bring to the West

Yorkshire region would be immense. Following Parliament approval of

the Order, mayoral elections would be held in May 2021.

The Managing Director of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority was

also present at the meeting and clarified that the Spatial Development

Strategy had not been included in the Order but would follow at a later

date. In addition, included in the Order were new powers relating to

transport, including easier access to bus franchising and a regional

approach to control of a Key Route Network.

The Deputy Leader in welcoming the exciting opportunity the

devolution deal afforded, personally thanked the Leader for the

foresight and fortitude she had shown in negotiating the deal, which

was one of the best deals negotiated to date, and one which will unlock

real regeneration, employment and training opportunities in the district

and the wider region.  

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder in

endorsing the deal, hoped that it would act as real driver for growth in

the district, as well as realising the wider environmental benefits that

would accrue through initiatives like the Transforming Cities

Programme, and a whole host of other schemes.

The Leader of the Opposition was also present at the meeting and in

welcoming the proposal, thanked the Government for its 

unprecedented investment in the region, and she hoped that the

money would be targeted at the right investment opportunities.  In

relation to the governance arrangements she welcomed the political

balance and the overview and scrutiny arrangements that would be in

place as part of devolved arrangements.

The Leader added that she hoped that further powers and funding

would follow and that all the people of the Region would feel the

benefits of Devolution. She thanked all those that had been involved in

the devolution process and who had worked tirelessly to ensure the

deal came to fruition, and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       Executive considered and commented on the content of Document “CO”, along with the draft Order.

(2)       Executive consented in principle to the draft Order to establish a mayoral combined authority and associated changes as set out in the ‘minded to’ Devolution Deal.

(3)       That authority be delegated to the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Leader and Chief Executive and the Chair of the Combined Authority, to finalise and consent to the final draft of the Order further to any technical issues which may arise.

(4)       That the updated timetable set out in Appendix 1 to Document “CO” be noted and the next steps which are subject to the consent being given by the Constituent Councils and Combined Authority, to the Order that the Secretary of State will lay in Parliament in December 2020.

(5)       That Document “CO” and the appendices be referred to             Council to consider, provide any comments, and endorse             the Executive decisions taken.

(6)       That the decision be exempt from call-in on the grounds of urgency, for the reasons set out in paragraph 5.1 to Document “CO”.

ACTION: Chief Executive

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

Michael Bowness, Assistant City Solicitor - 07582 103658 and

Phil Witcherley, Head of Policy and Performance -  07970 684889)