Issue - meetings

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Alan Reiss)

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director Policy, Strategy and Communications on the implementation of devolution in West Yorkshire.

Members considered the outcome of the statutory Governance Review and the draft Scheme for the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority which were summarised in the report. A copy of the full Governance Review was attached at Appendix 1 and the draft Scheme at Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

The Authority discussed the consultation and engagement process which, subject to the authorisation of the Combined Authority and the Constituent Councils, would be carried out across the region.  It was noted that the draft consultation questions which were attached at Appendix 3 were currently being updated and a copy of the final consultation documents would be shared with Members at the earliest opportunity.  The public consultation on the devolution deal and proposals for a directly elected mayor would be held between 25 May – 19 July 2020.

It was agreed that the decisions taken in respect of the report be exempt from call-in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  This was on the grounds of urgency as any delay caused by the call-in process would prejudice the Combined Authority’s and Constituent Councils’ interests as delaying the start of the consultation process would have a significant detrimental impact on the proposed timetable which was attached at Appendix 4.

The Authority thanked officers for their support during the devolution negotiations and the work being undertaken to establish a Mayoral Combined Authority.

Resolved:

(a)       That the conclusions of the Governance Review attached as Appendix

1 to the submitted report be endorsed, including that an Order under S104 and S105 in relation to the changes to constitutional arrangements considered in the Review and the delegation of additional functions to the Combined Authority would be likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions in relation to the Combined Authority’s area.

(b)       That the Combined Authority’s consideration of the draft Scheme for the establishment of the Mayoral Combined Authority, attached as Appendix 2 to the submitted report be noted.

(c)        That agreement be given for a public consultation exercise to be carried out on the proposals contained in the Scheme and that the Combined Authority’s consideration of the draft consultation questions, attached as Appendix 3 to the submitted report be noted.

(d)       That engagement between the Combined Authority and other Constituent Councils should progress as described in the submitted report and that the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Leader of each Constituent Council, be authorised to take any steps to finalise the Scheme and progress the public consultation exercise as set out above.  

(e)       That the updated timetable set out in Appendix 4 to the submitted report be noted and the next steps including, subject to the approval by the Constituent Councils and Combined Authority, the submission of a summary of the consultation responses to the Secretary of State in August/September 2020 and subsequently consent to any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88