West Yorkshire Devolution

A devolution deal for West Yorkshire

Leaders of the five West Yorkshire councils have secured an ambitious devolution deal with Government, which will see an historic transfer of powers and investment from Whitehall to our region. It will give local control of at least £1.8 billion of funding to be spent on the things that matter to the people of West Yorkshire.

The deal means decisions across key areas, such as better transport, skills, the economy, housing and regeneration will be taken in West Yorkshire by people who know and understand the region, bringing benefits for rural and urban communities and improvements to people’s quality of life.

It will also mean a directly-elected mayor for West Yorkshire with elections being held in May 2021.

The deal

The deal includes:

• £38 million per year for 30 years into the West Yorkshire Investment Fund with significant freedoms to spend on local priorities
• a Government commitment to work with West Yorkshire to develop a modern mass transit system through access to a new five-year integrated transport settlement – a share of a £4.2 billion fund for mayoral combined authorities
• £317 million to invest in public transport, cycling and walking through the Transforming Cities Fund with local flexibility on delivery
• a £25 million fund to support the development of a British Library North in Leeds
• a Government commitment to deliver flooding schemes worth £101 million
• control of the £63 million annual Adult Education Budget for West Yorkshire
• £3.2 million to support the development of a pipeline of housing sites across West Yorkshire
• £200,000 Government funding for collaboration at a Yorkshire-level through the Yorkshire Leaders Board

You can read more in the full deal document.

Full details of the scheme setting out proposals for changes to the governance and functions of  the West Yorkshire Combined Authority can be found here.

You can also read a governance review, which has informed the proposed governance changes here.

You can find a glossary of the terms used in this consultation here,

The consultation

Between 25 May and 19 July 2020, we asked for your feedback on the devolution deal. This survey has now closed and Ipsos MORI, on behalf of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, are collating and independently analysing all the consultation responses received. They will present a report to Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for consideration. After considering the information in the consultation report, a decision will be made on whether to submit the scheme, and any recommendations, to the Secretary of State to lay an order for the creation of a mayoral combined authority and election of a Mayor for West Yorkshire.

Adult Education Budget Strategy Consultation

At the same time as this devolution consultation a separate consultation was held on the Adult Education Budget Strategy – it is a public consultation, but we are particularly keen to hear from education and training providers, and similarly interested stakeholders. This plan outlines the improvements we intend to make to the adult skills system through the devolution of the Adult Education Budget.

If you are interested in knowing more about this consultation, please visit: yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/aeb

Stay in touch

To be kept informed, please register for updates or enter your email address in the 'Stay Informed' section of this page.

Contact us

Via email: wyconsultation@ipsos-mori.com

Via our freephone number: 0800 141 3657

Via post: Freepost WY Devolution Consultation (no stamp needed)