Barnsley’s business community addresses plans for devolution deal

Barnsley’s business community and residents were able to express their thoughts on devolution as part of a major consultation on a deal to give more powers to the Sheffield City Region.

Held at the Better Barnsley Shop, a public consultation took place to discuss the devolution plan to transfer critical decision making powers about skills, transport and infrastructure from the government.

As part of devolution, the Government is offering more powers to areas to support economic growth. It is believed that council leaders are better placed to make the decisions that help grow the local economy and create jobs.

The Sheffield City Region is set to benefit from devolution with more powers and £1.3bn to spend over the next 30 years.

As part of the Government’s devolution deal, the region will also have a directly-elected Mayor as well as more powers for council leaders to make the decisions that affect the local economy.

Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, chair of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, said: “We are pleased that people took the time to come to the event to ask questions and express their views on the devolution plans.

“All their comments will be carefully documented before we submit a report to the Government later in the summer.”

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