Brexit vote helps make case for One Yorkshire devolution deal, business leader claims
THE RESULT of Brexit referendum is one of the main reasons to support a Yorkshire-wide devolution, according to a leading regional business official.
Dan Fell, who heads the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, told councillors yesterday that the 2016 decision to leave the European Union was a big factor in the borough council changing course on its preferred model of devolution.
Doncaster was one of four authorities in South Yorkshire to sign up to the Sheffield City Region devolution deal in 2015, alongside Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley.
But Doncaster and Barnsley councils both withdrew from the £30m-a-year agreement last year, meaning metro mayor Dan Jarvis was elected with few powers or resources.
They are among the 18 council leaders in the region backing a One Yorkshire deal where Whitehall would transfer powers and funds to a single mayoral authority covering the region of 5.3 million people.
Mr Fell told a Doncaster council overview and scrutiny management meeting: “When the Yorkshire deal came into play one of the main things that changed it was the EU referendum result.
“Yorkshire has a population of five million people with a recognised brand with some scale. That becomes way more meaningful in light of Brexit referendum than before it.
“I absolutely believe Yorkshirewide devolution is the right end goal to go down but that’s the politicians to decide the journey but the vision is really compelling.
“It’s a brand that has national attraction – I’ve never been oversea and said I’m a Sheffield City Region man. The Yorkshire brand will help us grow overseas but bringing inward investment and tourism to Doncaster.”
At the same meeting Coun John Mounsey, who represents Adwick & Carcroft, said Doncaster has ‘much more potential’ than the rest of South Yorkshire and must push on for a wider county devolution deal after Brexit.
Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire is yet to respond to a report setting out the case for One Yorkshire submitted last month.
The Government has said repeatedly it would refuse to entertain such a deal until the current Sheffield City Region deal was fully implemented.
A report to go before Leeds councillors this month said: “Whilst there is not currently an agreed timetable with central government for further devolution to Leeds, it is hoped detailed discussions with relevant Ministers can take place as soon as possible, in order to progress the proposal for a One Yorkshire devolution deal.”
Leeds City Council’s strategy and resources scrutiny board is set to meet to discuss issues around region-wide devolution on November 12.
A report set to go before board members claims such a deal could add more than £10bn to exports per year, as well as an extra £1.56bn per year in investment in skills.