Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive which provides an update on the latest stage of the process to implement the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal, as agreed between the region and Government in March 2020. Also, the report details the outcome of the public consultation exercise undertaken between June and July 2020 and the next steps in the implementation process. Finally, following consideration of such matters earlier in the day by full Council, the report asks the Board to consider the outcome of the consultation and approve progression to the next phase, including the submission of a summary of consultation responses to the Secretary of State.

Further to Minute No. 169, 19^th May 2020, the Chief Executive submitted a report which provided an update on the latest stage of the process to implement the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal as agreed between the region and Government in March 2020. The report also detailed the outcome of the public consultation exercise which had been held between June and July 2020 and outlined the next steps in the implementation process. Finally, the report also invited the Board to consider the outcome of the consultation process and approve progression to the next phase, including the submission of a summary of consultation responses to the Secretary of State.

Following the comprehensive discussion of this matter at a meeting of full Council held earlier in the day, which included agreement of the recommendations put before Council and the incorporation of an amendment in the name of Councillor A Carter, in considering the submitted report, the Board briefly discussed several issues, including the need to ensure that the tangible benefits arising from devolution for communities across West Yorkshire were maximised and that public awareness of it was increased. It was also acknowledged that West Yorkshire’s devolution journey was in its infancy and that there was a lot more work to be done in order to establish and embed devolved arrangements in the region. Members also briefly discussed the Mayoral Combined Authority model. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the content of the submitted report, along with the Summary of Consultation Responses, as attached at Appendix 1, be noted;

(b)  That in considering the submitted report, the resolutions and representations made by full Council at its meeting prior to Executive Board, which included Council’s agreement to the incorporation of an amendment, as submitted in the name of Councillor A Carter, be noted;

(c)  That the joint statement from Leeds Scrutiny Board Chairs, as detailed at Appendix 3 to the submitted report, together with the summary of Leeds-led engagement in sections 3.29 and 3.45 of the submitted report, be noted;

(d)  That agreement be given to submit the Summary of Consultation Responses, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, to the Secretary of State by 11th September 2020, and that approval also be provided to jointly delegate authority to the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Leader and Chief Executive of each constituent Council and the Chair of the Combined Authority, to finalise and submit documents, subject to any technical issues which may arise;

(e)  That the updated timetable, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, together with the next steps, be noted, which are subject to consent being given by constituent Councils and the Combined Authority to the draft Order in November 2020, so that a Mayoral Combined Authority model and associated changes may be adopted and implemented by May 2020, as set out in the Deal;

(f)  That in response to the resolutions and formal amendment as agreed by full Council earlier in the day, agreement be given to also make additional representations on strategic planning powers to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and reach an agreement that provides firmer guarantees that each of the constituent authorities would have a veto over being part of any Mayoral spatial strategy;

(g)  That the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee be invited to consider the proposed governance arrangements, as set out at paragraph 3.55 of the submitted report, regarding the Council’s reporting arrangements on devolution;

(h)  That approval be given for all decisions taken by Executive Board from this report, and as resolved above, be exempted from the Call In process on the grounds of urgency, for the reasons as set out in paragraph 4.5.3 of the submitted report.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process by the decision taker if it is considered that the matter is urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (h) above, and for the reasons as detailed within sections 4.5.3 of the submitted report)