Devolution debate: ‘This deal is a game-changer’
Councillor Mike Ross
With a consultation on a proposed devolution deal for Hull and East Yorkshire now under way, we hear the views of political leaders in their own words. This is by Mike Ross, Liberal Democrat leader of Hull City Council
Why is Hull the last place in Yorkshire to get a devolution deal in place?
As we have seen elsewhere, devolution can help unlock millions of pounds in investment, support for transport and flooding issues and jobs and growth for the area. Surely, this is something we want to see for our area too?
Sadly, Hull has been at the back of the queue too many times in history. As leader of the Liberal Democrat council in Hull I am determined to change that.
Many people tell me Hull has been let down by both local and national leaders in the past. In turn, the local community has gone without the fair deal they deserve. Getting devolution sorted finally for Hull is a chance to put this right.
After months of back and forth with the Government, we in Hull along with our neighbours in the East Riding, have secured a new deal for the area that has jobs, investment and growth at its heart.
I believe the new devolution deal is a fair deal for Hull – the sort of deal the city deserves.
The council has managed to secure more investment than South and West Yorkshire did in their first devolution deals, and vital pots of funding to tackle the big issues that matter to local people like housing and flooding.
So what is it that the deal offers?
This new deal will see over £400million in funding over 30 years. In addition to this we have secured over £4million to help deliver new homes in the area and £15million to invest in transport and flood resilience.
This amount of funding is not only vital for the city and the area but at the levels we have not seen in years.
On top of this there is a commitment in black and white from the Government, in the very proposed deal text, to electrify the railway line between Hull, Leeds and Sheffield. This has been a huge campaign from residents for a long time and now we can see movement to make it happen.
This deal has been welcomed as a fresh start by many local people, businesses and other organisations across the city and the wider region and I do truly believe this is a game-changer.
This deal sees an explicit commitment to help support the expansion of the Siemens Gamesa site, which has already given so much to the city in terms of jobs and prestige.
We have also secured more support to help with skills for local people to get more and better jobs across the city.
One of the things local people tell me about politicians is how they are always willing to put their own interests above those of their communities.
While for me supporting this deal is the right and pragmatic step to take, regardless of whatever views I may have, this is not the case for all the local politicians.
Sadly, Labour MPs and councillors are seeking to put their own interests ahead of those of the city, speaking out against a deal that will bring game-changing levels of investment to Hull for decades to come.
I have always said that we would only want to proceed with a deal for Hull and East Yorkshire if we felt it was going to be the best possible deal for the area and one that could benefit local people. We want to put the politics aside and focus on what is best for people.
After making the case for what this area needs, the council has managed to get the Government to put forward a deal that will help meet the needs of the city.
But, as Lib Dems in Hull, we promised, above all else, to be a council that listens to local people.
That’s why regardless of what the politicians think about this deal, the most important thing is that you, the public, have your say.
During January and February the council will be holding a consultation on the deal – to hear directly from you what you make of what is on offer. While I am fully supporting the offer on the table, we will only be able to proceed if the public back it too.
The consultation, running until Tuesday, February 27, 2024, is the time for you to have your say on this new deal. Please do let us know what you think.
Finally, this proposal represents the first step on the journey to getting a better deal for Hull. If this proposal is supported by you, Hull and East Yorkshire will work towards further devolution giving greater benefits for the area.
The consultation runs until February 27. You can read the proposal and give your feedback at heydevolution.com.