Public consultation on West Yorkshire £1.8bn devolution deal closes

A public consultation has closed regarding bringing West Yorkshire’s £1.8bn devolution deal into law.

The process to bring the devolution deal into law will take further steps forward in the coming weeks as the region’s five councils, plus the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, formally consider the outcomes of a public consultation on the deal.

The consultation findings will be discussed in public over the coming weeks at virtual meetings of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils, and a virtual meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Councils and the Combined Authority will be asked to agree to submit a summary of the consultation findings to the secretary of state for communities and local government, Robert Jenrick MP.

In a joint statement, West Yorkshire’s five council leaders, councillors Susan Hinchcliffe, Tim Swift, Shabir Pandor, Judith Blake and Denise Jeffery, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part in this consultation and are looking forward to fully considering the views that so many of our residents have taken the time to share in our full council meetings.

“The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted, more than ever, why it’s important that decisions which affect local people are taken locally, by people who understand local communities and are accountable to residents.

“Devolution means that more of these vital decisions will be taken here in West Yorkshire and will provide greater investment to help our region recover from the pandemic.

“It’s encouraging, therefore, that most people who responded to the consultation support the proposals on the table.

“We will be taking just as much interest, however, in some of the other comments provided so that the way we approach devolution in West Yorkshire truly addresses local people’s concerns.

“In particular we are pleased that funding has been provided through this deal for the Yorkshire Leaders Board to continue collaborating on a Yorkshire-wide basis on a number of key issues.”