Issue - meetings

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

Resolved:

(a)       That the progress made to date be noted.

(b)       That the proposal to join the M9 group of other Mayoral Combined Authorities be approved.

(c)        That the proposal to pursue a potential transfer of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office by May 2021 be endorsed, subject to feasibility and due diligence.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Managing Director on devolution progress.

The report provided an update on work underway to become a Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) and to implement the ‘minded to’ devolution deal. An overview of progress and details of the workstreams, which are themed around three priority areas, was outlined in the report and at Appendix 1.  The governance for the programme was set out in Appendix 2.

It was reported that the eight week public consultation on the scheme had now closed and over 4,500 submissions had been received.  Members congratulated officers on the high number of responses, particularly in light of the current situation. A full analysis of the responses would be undertaken but initial indications suggest that overall, respondents are in favour of the proposed arrangements.  A summary report is to be considered by all West Yorkshire authorities and the Combined Authority and submitted to the Secretary of State in early September 2020.

The Authority considered and endorsed, subject to feasibility, the proposal to pursue a potential transfer of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions to the MCA in May 2021.

It was reported that to further strengthen MCA-level collaboration, West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been invited to join the ‘M9’ network which supports joint engagement between the nine existing MCAs and Government.  Members considered the proposal and, in noting the benefits, agreed that membership of M9 would enable the Combined Authority to have a strengthened voice in national level conversations.

Resolved:

(a)       That the progress made to date be noted.

(b)       That the proposal to join the M9 group of other Mayoral Combined Authorities be approved.

(c)        That the proposal to pursue a potential transfer of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office by May 2021 be endorsed, subject to feasibility and due diligence.