Sheffield City Region takes next step towards historic devolution deal
This week the Sheffield City Region will submit the results of its consultation to the Secretary of State following a decision from the Combined Authority on Monday 12th September 2016.
This marks the next step in the Sheffield City Region’s devolution journey. Following the submission of the consultation summary it is now for the Secretary of State to progress with statutory Orders.
Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, said: “The Sheffield City Region is committed to the substantial devolution of powers and funding including £1.3bn of investment through the Devolution Agreement. Today we have agreed to submit our consultation responses to the Secretary of State, which marks the next step on our devolution journey.
“The elected mayor is not yet a done deal. We are seeking clarity from Government on whether this is still needed as there are still significant concerns around the mayoral model amongst a number of city region authorities. We won’t make the final decision to go ahead unless we are absolutely sure that this is best possible outcome for our residents and that there are no other options open to us. Any decision on the mayor and any election timetable is therefore subject to these considerations.
“Our consultation results show that local residents and businesses are supportive of devolving additional powers to the Sheffield City Region and formalising Bassetlaw and Chesterfield as constituent members. This is another step on our devolution journey which puts Sheffield City Region in the driving seat.”
The Sheffield City Region expects to enter into dialogue with officials from Government about the content of the draft Orders which set out additional powers and functions which the Combined Authority is seeking and the governance changes needed to operate a Mayoral Combined Authority. This will include extending the boundaries of the Authority and to amend the Mayoral Election Order so that the election on 4 May 2017 includes residents from Bassetlaw and Chesterfield.
The consultation results show the following:
• The majority of residents, businesses and civic institutions who responded to the consultation supported the general principle of devolution and the proposals set out in the Scheme document
• In general, those who supported the proposals believed that the proposals would facilitate growth and improve the exercise of statutory functions
• However, support was not universal or unanimous and the consultation did raise issues and matters that the Secretary of State should have regard to when considering the nature and extent of future orders
• The consultation raised a number of alternatives and/or variations to the proposals in the Scheme.
