Why Calderdale Council's leader Tim Swift is backing West Yorkshire devolution

Over the next six weeks, Leader of Calderdale Council, Tim Swift, along with leaders of the other West Yorkshire councils, are putting the case for devolution to their citizens.

The Government has offered a City Deal covering the five West Yorkshire authorities, already working together as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, meaning an elected Mayor from next May and around £38 million of unrestricted funding made available to the region each year, for 30 years, by Government.

The official consultation is now under way – it closes on July 19 – and Councillor Swift is urging people to engage with it.

Councillor Swift (Lab, Town) believes supporting devolution is the best decision for Calderdale and is confident that although it is the smallest authority of the five it can punch above its weight.

The annual sum of £38 million would allow the Mayor – who will also take on the powers currently held by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner – and authority leaders to plan and fund projects which could be more speedily completed.

“It is access to money with less strings attached and the ability to take our own decisions as to how it is spent without it having to be signed off by Government departments.

“It’s not perfect, but it is a really important step in the right direction,” said Coun Swift.

The ball would still be in Calderdale’s court to convince colleagues across the region that proposals it put forward were right for the authority and the region, a role it was used to already, and with much success, within the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, he said.

Devolution meant these decisions would be made by people who knew West Yorkshire and knew how important Calderdale was in the wider economy, rather than officials in London, said Coun Swift.

As an example, although the Halifax Rail Station gateway project was almost signed off, devolution would have speeded the process up.

“We would have got there quicker without different hoops to go through,” he said.

And on a wider scale West Yorkshire authorities had identified around 150 housing schemes across the region which would need some sort of public intervention to get them under way, for example extra costs because they were brownfield sites or had infrastructure issues, to help meet housing needs.

One of the most frustrating things as they were now was having to “stitch together” schemes from different pots of funding with different timescales and criteria.

“The more we can work with a single pot of money at West Yorkshire level, the more we can make sure we get the things we want for Calderdale,” said Coun Swift.

Government was keen on regions having an elected Mayor because they provided a single point of accountability, said Coun Swift, and the benefit to local authorities was that the Mayor would understand their region very well and give it a stronger voice nationally.

“Rightly or wrongly, they are seen as significant national players.

“There is no reason why the Mayor of West Yorkshire shouldn’t have a similar influence,” he said.

The system would have checks and balances, including a veto in certain areas, for example key strategic planning or the budget.

While there might be concerns the Mayor elected – political parties would select their own candidates and independents were also likely to stand – might favour their own area, Coun Swift doubted that would happen.

“Any sensible Mayor knows they have to balance the interests of the the different districts,” he said.

Coun Swift acknowledged grabbing people’s interest in devolution was challenging, with business most engaged, recognising the importance of investing in things like infrastructure and skills.

But he urged everyone to engage in the process.

“This is a really big change.

“It is right that we do it because it’s the only way of unlocking some of the scale of investment that the region needs and if we don’t get that we risk being left behind neighbouring areas.

“We need to go into it with our eyes open and that people are comfortable with the safeguards.

“It is also a chance for people to talk more about their priorities, having a bigger say and having more say,” said Coun Swift.

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic a lot of consultation interaction will be via social media, with a a certain amount of postal questionnaires.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is leading the consultation and has a dedicated consultation website at yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/WYdevolution – people can also email their views to [email protected] or write to a freepost address (no stamp needed): Freepost, WY Devolution Consultation.

People can also call 0800 141 3657.

Once the consultation period is over, a report on its findings will have to be brought before Cabinet and Council no later than mid-September, endorsed findings being sent to Government.

If Government agrees with the council’s submission, a final sign-off would be required by the council no later than late December or early January.

The devolution deal offered to West Yorkshire includes:

A sum of £38 million per year for 30 years into the West Yorkshire Investment Fund with significant freedoms to spend on local priorities

A Government commitment to work with West Yorkshire to develop a modern mass transit system through access to a new five-year integrated transport settlement – a share of a £4.2 billion fund for mayoral combined authorities.

A sum of £317 million to invest in public transport, cycling and walking through the Transforming Cities Fund with local flexibility on delivery.

A £25 million fund to support the development of a British Library North, which would be in Leeds.

A Government commitment to deliver flooding schemes worth £101 million.

Control of the £63 million annual Adult Education Budget for West Yorkshire.

A sum of £3.2 million to support the development of a pipeline of housing sites across West Yorkshire.

And £200,000 Government funding for collaboration at a Yorkshire-level through the Yorkshire Leaders Board.