A two-year deadlock over devolution in South Yorkshire has finally been broken after the Government reached an agreement on working towards a deal.
Sheffield City Region’s Labour mayor Dan Jarvis and four local council leaders announced that the Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick had confirmed he would work with them to devolve powers from Westminster to the region, which includes Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham.
The move also opens the door to further devolution with discussions set to take place about the formal creation of a “committee of leaders” for Yorkshire, which is already years behind the devolved rival regions of Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Leaders in South Yorkshire say they would have the opportunity to join any full Yorkshire devolution arrangement for “God’s own country” if they chose to fall into line with other parts of the historic county.
Devolution deal
Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: “Today’s news represents a considerable step forward in our mission to devolve more power, money and responsibility back to the people of the North.
”Unlocking this devolution deal will be a game changing opportunity to unleash the potential of South Yorkshire ensuring your locally elected Mayor has a warchest of power and money to drive jobs and growth.”
i reported in 2017 how the Government’s Northern Powerhouse plans were being hit by a major setback after Sheffield City Region said it was postponing its mayoral election to 2018 – a year behind other mayoral regions in the North.
Derbyshire County Council had taken the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to the High Court in 2016 claiming a consultation on whether the region should include Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was unlawful.
It would have given Sheffield’s elected mayor powers over key services in the Derbyshire market town including public transport, skills and major planning projects.
Resurrected deal
There was hope of a resurrected deal last year when the four South Yorkshire councils and the Government agreed how devolution should proceed.
It meant Barnsley and Doncaster, which signed up to the original deal back in 2015 but then changed their minds to back a Yorkshire-wide arrangement, would be allowed to leave the Sheffield City Region deal if things changed.
The four councils said in a joint statement with Mr Jarvis said: “This represents a significant step forward in securing additional powers and resources for our region.”
Mr Jarvis said: “We stand at a critical moment for our country. As we leave the European Union, securing further powers and resources for South Yorkshire and building greater co-operation across Yorkshire will ensure we are best prepared for whatever Brexit brings.”
