The beginning of February has brought the launch of the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, furthering devolution in the region and unlocking millions of pounds worth of investment.
With the formation of the new combined authority, more than £540 million will be invested in the region. This will come alongside increased control over how funding for housing, transport, skills, and net zero is spent.
During the first year of operation, the combined authority will deliver more than £56 million in projects that will support the construction of new homes, as well as furthering the region’s transition to net zero carbon emissions. Yesterday was the first working day of the new authority, with the inaugural meeting taking place on the 22nd of January, this meeting included the confirmation of the constitution, budget and statutory officers, being attended by the leaders of the constituent councils, North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.
Councillor Carl Les, Leader of North Yorkshire Council, said:
“We have waited a long time to bring the benefits of devolution to hundreds of thousands of people in York and North Yorkshire.
“These benefits will make a real difference to people’s lives, whether that is creating more affordable housing, improving skills and training, creating better career opportunities, and promoting the green sector to protect the environment.
“The launch of the Combined Authority is a major moment in realising what devolution actually means for the residents and businesses of North Yorkshire. It will allow us to have more decisions made locally and also the responsibility for hundreds of millions of pounds in extra funding from the Government.
“We now have a powerful organisation to achieve this, and as a council, we are looking forward to working closely with colleagues at the Combined Authority and City of York Council, as well as the new mayor when they are elected in May.”
The original devolution deal was proposed in August 2022, with the devolution order coming into force on the 20th of December 2023 after going through parliament. With the combined authority now launched, the next step will come on the 2nd of May this year when an election will be undertaken to appoint a Mayor.
Leader of City of York Council, Cllr Claire Douglas, also commented:
“It was fantastic to join local stakeholders to mark the first day of the Combined Authority and the start of a new era for our region. I want to thank everyone across York and North Yorkshire who has been involved in making this happen.
“One of York’s Council Plan priorities is to make the most of devolution and we are looking forward to getting on with the job in the coming weeks, months, and years by working closely with our North Yorkshire partners and the new Mayor.
“While we are all rightly proud of where we live, our region does face challenges, especially around housing, transport and the cost-of-living crisis. Making devolution a success means delivering for our residents and businesses by investing in sustainable and affordable housing, tackling the climate emergency, transforming transport and boosting our economy for the benefit of everyone.
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