‘Without devolution, we will be left on the sidelines’

PASSIONATE: Councillor Anne Handley

Devolution talks about the creation of a combined authority led by the region’s first directly elected mayor are ongoing, with a possible announcement next month. Here, Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, explains why she strongly believes it’s the best way forward

East Yorkshire stands on the brink of an exciting opportunity, one that could shape our region for decades to come: devolution. As leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, I am committed to securing the best possible devolution deal for East Yorkshire.

As I write this, I have just got back from Westminster, where Hull City Council leader Councillor Mike Ross and I met with government ministers to look in more depth at what sort of devolved powers will be part of our deal. Talks are now at an advanced stage, and I hope we will soon be able to say we have reached an agreement that will bring huge benefits for East Yorkshire.

There are many types of devolution deal, but a mayoral combined authority offers more devolved powers and funding than any other, which is why I passionately believe it is the right one to go for.

The name is somewhat misleading. The word “combined” suggests that we’re planning to merge our two councils or try to recreate Humberside in some way. That is far from the truth. I want to dispel this myth of a merger once and for all and make sure everyone understands what devolution would really mean for the region. The purpose of devolution is not to merge our areas, but to allow us to work together to make things better for the whole region.

Under a mayoral combined authority, each council would remain separate and distinct with its own set of responsibilities. We would both continue to provide day-to-day services to our own residents, just as we do now. But we would collaborate on overarching strategic issues that cross boundaries, such as transport, economic growth, and adult education, while still retaining our autonomy and individual identities.

AUTHORITY LEADERS: Mike Ross and Anne Handley

An elected mayor, chosen by our residents, would represent our interests directly to central government. Imagine the possibilities: a more direct channel of communication, swift decision-making and a stronger voice for our region on the national stage.

But let me assure you, that mayor would not be all-powerful and make all the decisions. The combined authority would have its own cabinet, made up of Hull and East Riding councillors, which would require a majority or unanimous vote to implement policies. I fully intend for our council to play an active role in holding the mayor to account. And at the end of the day, if residents don’t like the mayor, they can vote them out.

An important part of this process will be making sure we bring our residents along with us, keeping them involved and informed at every step of the journey and giving them the opportunity to have their say. Once our draft deal is agreed and ratified, we will begin a period of meaningful public consultation, and I urge everyone to participate and ensure their voices are heard. As soon as we are in a position to share the details of our deal, I am confident that the benefits of devolution will become much clearer to everyone.

Much of our wonderful business community has long advocated for a mayoral combined authority deal. They have seen other regions benefit from substantial investment funding while our area has been left in the lurch. These businesses, employers to thousands of our residents, can also rest assured that we are striving to get the best deal from the Government.

We are the last part of Yorkshire yet to embrace the benefits of devolution, and councils south of the Humber are currently in talks on their own deal for a mayoral combined authority for Greater Lincolnshire. Without devolution, we risk remaining on the sidelines, unable to negotiate on equal terms with our neighbours. Given the right powers and funding, I genuinely believe that East Yorkshire can become a major economic force in England.

I invite all residents and businesses in Hull and the East Riding to join us on this exciting journey and embrace the power of devolution. Let’s unite in our shared ambition: to create a brighter future for the whole of East Yorkshire.