Agenda item

Recommendations

The Executive is asked to:

i.       Approve the submission of a Consultation Summary Report to Government.

ii.     Approve amendments to the Scheme and proposals for the operating model of the Combined Authority, for submission to Government.

iii.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake any action necessary to submit the Consultation Summary Report and Scheme to Government, in line with recommendations (i) & (ii).

iv.    Approve amendments to the Terms of Reference for the York and North Yorkshire Joint Devolution Committee outlined in paragraphs 6.1 - 6.5 of the report, and attached at Appendix 2.

v.     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake any action necessary to provide consent to the Order facilitating the creation of the Combined Authority in line with the scheme submitted to Government, as outlined in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.5 of the report.

vi.    Refer the decisions made by Executive in the recommendations above to Full Council for endorsement to ensure the views of all Members of the Council are taken into account on this matter.

Considered – Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Legal and Democratic Services detailing the outcome of the consultation carried out on a Scheme relating to the proposed governance arrangements required to implement the Devolution Deal for York and North Yorkshire announced on 1 August 2022.

County Councillor Carl Les introduced the report, noting that a Devolution Deal for York and North Yorkshire was something that has been pursued for a number of years and was the first step on the ladder. He felt it was an exciting moment, giving York and North Yorkshire a chance to replicate Combined Authority areas such as the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and the Tees Valley. Last month, a cross party group of councillors had visited Tees Valley Combined Authority to meet the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and see the work he has been doing.

Richard Flinton, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council gave the background to the Devolution Deal for York & North Yorkshire, with headlines including over £500m investment funding spread over 30 years, made up of an annual £18m gainshare funding into the area to drive growth and take forward its priorities over the longer term, along with £1m additional transport capacity funding, £13m for the building of new homes on brownfield sites and over £2.5m to support the delivery of low carbon homes, together with £7m for green economic growth initiatives. There will also be new powers around skills, devolving of adult education budgets, new arrangements for building affordable homes, economic development and transport. Also included in the deal is support for the development of Scarborough Cyber Cluster, a commitment to establish a programme working group around BioYorkshire and a pledge to realise the region’s cultural potential. There was also support to develop a Natural Capital Investment plan for York and North Yorkshire.It was felt by officers that the proposed deal is strong, with the gainshare funding comparing favourably with other Devolution Deals agreed.

On the consultation undertaken, the response rate, although not large, was in line and in some cases greater than similar devolution consultation exercises that have been carried out. The proposed recommendations in the report will amend the scheme in one regard, to harmonise the wording of the multiple references to the need for consent of the National Parks Authorities for a Mayoral Development Area within their boundaries.

James Farrar, Chief Operating Officer of the York and North Yorkshire LEP commented that the proposed deal helps to build a good working relationship with Government that can develop, with progress already being made on some aspects of the deal, for example on the bioeconomy and natural capital investment.

Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive – Legal and Democratic Services, advised that the report seeks approval to submit a summary of the consultation responses to the Secretary of State, to demonstrate the consultation required by section 110 of the 2009 Act, has been undertaken.  It will then be a matter for the Secretary of State to consider whether further consultation is necessary or whether to proceed with making of the order subject to the consent of the constituent Councils.

County Councillor Derek Bastiman welcomed the Devolution Deal, with the benefits it would bring to SMEs and larger businesses to promote entrepreneurship and economic growth across the county. He noted the enthusiasm of businesses for the proposed deal at the consultation launch event.

County Councillor Annabel Wilkinson noted the positive and exciting opportunities for skills development as part of the proposed deal, through working with local businesses and colleges to upskill young people through apprenticeships and careers hubs within schools and for adults to learn new skills.

County Councillor Simon Myers stated that he was hugely optimistic of the opportunities that the proposed deal offered to the unitary council in the areas of delivering affordable housing, the levelling up of wellbeing and leisure, sports and culture and prioritising these beyond statutory obligations. He noted the frustration with decisions that are made in Westminster that never come to fruition in local areas, so welcomed the prospect of a directly elected mayor to fight for the area to deliver for York and North Yorkshire.

County Councillor George Jabbour welcomed the recent trip to the Tees Valley Combined Authority to see the benefits of additional funding to local areas, together with the strategic thinking and creative initiatives that will be available as part of devolution if the proposed deal proceeds. He also noted that the mayor will take on the responsibilities of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the opportunities that will bring for local resilience and joined up civil contingency planning, preparation, and delivery.

County Councillor Greg White noted the criticism raised as part of the consultation of too much bureaucracy and felt that there should be an awareness of this and that any combined authority formed should try to minimise this as much as possible.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd referenced the point raised as part of the public question received noting there was no breakdown of the responses received to the consultation from those in North Yorkshire and those in York. He felt this was not relevant as the two constituent councils were coming together to try to achieve a strategic benefit for the area of York and North Yorkshire.

Resolved -

The Executive is asked to:

i.        Approve the submission of a Consultation Summary Report to Government.

ii.    Approve amendments to the Scheme and proposals for the operating model of the Combined Authority outlined in paragraphs 4.69 to 4.72, for submission to Government.

iii.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake any action necessary to submit the Consultation Summary Report and Scheme to Government, in line with recommendations 16.1 and 16.2.

iv.    Approve amendments to the Terms of Reference for the York and North Yorkshire Joint Devolution Committee outlined in paragraphs 6.1 to 6.5 and attached at Annex 2

v.     Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake any action necessary to provide consent to the Order facilitating the creation of the Combined Authority in line with the scheme submitted to Government, as outlined in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.5

vi.    Refer the decisions made by Executive in the recommendations above to Full Council for endorsement to ensure the views of all Members of the Council are taken into account on this matter.