Region is told: Get a mayor or miss out on funds
North Yorkshire urged to get ‘best devolution deal’
A DIRECTLY-ELECTED mayor for North Yorkshire and York must be introduced to secure the most powers and funding from the region’s planned devolution deal, councillors have been told.
Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, has written to every councillor on what will be the new North Yorkshire Council to urge them to back the creation of a mayoral role for the region.
It comes after the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper specified that only areas with directly-elected mayors could hold devolved powers such as receiving a long-term investment fund; establishing development corporations to lead local regeneration projects and being given priority for improvements to rail services and stations.
Last week 90 councillors were voted onto what will become the new unitary authority of North Yorkshire Council from next year – replacing the existing county council and seven district councils.
While the Conservatives have majority control of the new system, their vote share plummeted across the region, with them now holding just 52 per cent of seats compared to 76 per cent under the old county council system.
The shake-up is a key requirement from the Government for a potential devolution deal for North Yorkshire and York, with the latter council continuing as a unitary authority to run in tandem with the new North Yorkshire Council.
The deal is currently being negotiated with the Government, with an announcement on an offer for devolution expected this summer before public consultations are staged later in the year.
Mr Murison urged councillors to work cross-party to get the best possible devolution deal for the region.
“The maximum powers and funding are only available for a devolution deal with a directly elected mayor.
“As the Tees Valley has proven, a large urban metropolitan area is not a prerequisite and the mayoral model can prove hugely successful in areas where the economic geography is dominated by towns. Locally-led economic growth strategies to raise productivity in areas such as these are vital.
“The North of Tyne Combined Authority shares much of its geography with the Borderlands Growth Deal, which included Carlisle, parts of Scotland and rural Northumberland – and these places are already reaping the benefits.
“Devolution is flourishing in some places while stalling in others. It is not right that Cumbria or North Yorkshire should miss out on empowered local leadership – nor the government funding which goes hand in hand with it.
“Metro mayors are needed for cities, towns, and rural areas alike if we are serious about building a truly productive, prosperous Northern Powerhouse.”