The leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Jonathan Owen welcomed the government’s announcement on negotiations for a devolution agreement for Hull and the East Riding.
Councillor Owen has been praised for his approach to perusing strategic investment in the local area by working with the Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Darren Hail on a multi-billion pound ‘County Deal’.
The start of negotiations has been triggered as part of the government’s levelling up the agenda and the publication of the white paper which was announced this week.
In March 2020, Councillor Owen announced his intention to work closely with Hull City Council to build a case for a regional devolution deal between the two authorities.
East Riding council has a strong track record of securing strategic investment into the local area and boasts one of the country’s highest capital investment budgets.
Councillor Owen has laid down his four key priorities for the area:
- Create an integrated low carbon transport network and ensure the continued success of our ports.
- Increase productivity by providing our workforce with the skills needed for the future, as well as supporting innovation and competitiveness.
- Promote inclusivity which creates economic opportunities for everyone, including tackling health inequalities and the persistent cycle of poverty and benefit dependency.
- Deliver a sustainable future through clean energy generation, sustainable development, adaptation and resilience.
Cllr Owen has been deputy leader of East Riding Council for 18 years and was elected Leader in 2021. He said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council welcome the invitation from Government to negotiate a ‘County Deal’ for Hull and the East Riding. This could enable us to realise significant benefits for our residents, our businesses and our wider economy.
“Key themes and priorities have been identified to enable growth opportunities and benefits to a larger geographic area. We look forward to working alongside the government and our neighbouring authority to support future investment opportunities in East Yorkshire.”
Our proposal is based upon the two local authorities formally working together, through the formation of a Hull and East Riding Combined Authority, on areas of shared focus, challenge and opportunity, such as economic development, transport and skills. This does not mean that our two authorities will be joined together.
A Combined Authority is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions on specific areas across council boundaries. It is far more robust than an informal partnership or a joint committee. The creation of a Combined Authority means Hull and the East Riding can be more ambitious in our joint working and can take advantage of new powers and resources devolved to us from national government that could not otherwise be accessed. Whilst Combined Authorities have to be established by Parliament, they are locally owned and have to be initiated and supported by the councils involved.
The formation of a Combined Authority follows a prescribed process which is set out by the government and, if Government agrees to the ambitious and transformational proposals, a formal public consultation will take place when the detail is clearer as part of that process.
The proposed model for a Hull and East Yorkshire County Deal is based upon what we believe will work best in our area, building upon years of successful joint working across one of the country’s strongest functional economic areas, contributing £13.4bn GVA and home to over 24,000 businesses and 600,300 people.
Through the proposed Hull and East Riding Devolution Deal, we are committing to:
- Continue to lead on the clean growth and net zero agenda
- Deliver on levelling up and placemaking
- Focus on businesses and skills and deliver on Global Britain.”