Sheffield City Region makes progress towards devolution deal

The Sheffield City Region is set to make a major development towards a devolution deal once the results of its consultation are submitted to the Secretary of State late this week.

Following the submission of the consultation summary, the Secretary of State will now progress with statutory Orders.

Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, said: “The Sheffield City Region is committed to the substantial devolution of powers and funding including £1.3bn of funding through the Devolution Agreement.

“Today we have agreed to submit our consultation responses to the Secretary of State which marks the next step on our devolution journey.

“Our consultation results show that local residents and businesses are supportive of devolving additional powers to the Sheffield City Region and formalising Bassetlaw and Chesterfield as constituent members.

“This is another step on our devolution journey which puts Sheffield City Region in the driving seat. The elected mayor is not yet a done deal and we won’t make the final decision to go ahead unless we are absolutely sure that this is best possible outcome for our residents.”

The Sheffield City Region expects to speak with officials from Government about the content of the draft Orders which set out additional powers and functions that the Combined Authority is seeking and the governance changes needed to operate a Mayoral Combined Authority.

This will include extending the boundaries of the Authority and to change the Mayoral Election Order so that the election in May 2017 includes residents from Bassetlaw and Chesterfield.

The consultation results show that the majority of residents, businesses and civic institutions who responded supported the general principle of devolution and the proposals set out in the Scheme document.

Those respondees who supported the proposals believed that a devolution deal would facilitate growth and improve the exercise of statutory functions.

However, support was not unanimous and the consultation did raise issues and matters that the Secretary of State should investigate when considering the nature of future orders.