New combined authority agrees £16m of investment for region
FIRST MEETING: From left, Julian Neilson (interim Section 73 officer, HEYCA), Jackie Dad (deputy leader, Hull City Council), Alan Menzies (Interim Chief Executive, East Riding Council), Mike Ross (leader, Hull City Council), Jonathan Evison (Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner), Anne Handley (leader, East Riding Council), David Tucker (deputy leader, East Riding Council), Lisa Dixon (interim monitoring officer, HEYCA), Matt Jukes (chief executive, Hull City Council), Mark Rogers (interim chief executive and head of paid service, (HEYCA)
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A total of £16m of investment for the region has been agreed at the first meeting of the newly created Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA).
The historic first gathering took place at ergo business centre in Hessle on March 5, when members of the executive board agreed to make £15m available to support transport, flood and coastal erosion programmes across the area, along with a coastal regeneration programme in the East Riding, and a brownfield employment programme in Hull, subject to agreement of the relevant business cases.
Further money can also be accessed to support the area’s economic growth priorities for offshore wind, and to address the effects of climate change at the coast. Another £1m was “earmarked towards the Howden link road scheme to support housing development in the area”.
The board will be led by the first elected mayor for Hull and Yorkshire, with the election due to take place on Thursday, May 1.
The board is comprised of two councillors from the two unitary authorities in the region, Hull City Council and East Riding Council. The city council is represented by its leader, Councillor Mike Ross, and deputy leader, Councillor Jackie Dad, with East Riding Council represented by leader, Councillor Anne Handley, and and deputy leader, Councillor David Tucker.
The non-voting members are made up of representatives from the Hull and East Yorkshire business and skills boards.
The HEYCA board also confirmed the appointment of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison as a non-constituent member of the combined authority.
Coun Dad said: “I’m delighted that we have got to this stage in our devolution journey and that we have had a successful first meeting.
“There’s been a lot of hard work to get us this far, but huge investment can now come into our region, allowing us to further tap into the talent and drive that people have here.”
Coun Tucker said: “It’s fantastic to reach this historic milestone in the devolution process.
“The combined authority will play a crucial role in devolving powers from Westminster and delivering for our residents of Hull and East Riding, and I look forward to working with the board to unlock investment and opportunities for our region.”
The combined authority was created after the councils agreed a devolution deal with Government.
The deal has unlocked a £400m investment fund, alongside powers that will move from Westminster to local decision-makers.
The new authority does not replace either council, with both retaining their independence and continuing their work as normal.
The combined authority will take on powers relating to transport, where it will become the local transport authority for the area, allowing it to develop a single strategic transport plan for the north bank of the Humber.
The authority has also unveiled its logo.