A Mayoral Combined Authority
On 9 May Tracy Brabin was elected the first Mayor of West Yorkshire. With specific powers on transport, housing, regeneration, finance and policing, the Mayor will work with the Mayoral Combined Authority, council leaders, business representatives and partners for the benefit of the region.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire
In May 2021, Tracy Brabin was elected Mayor of West Yorkshire, representing the interests of 2.3 million people across the region. The Mayor has responsibility for transport, housing and planning, and finance powers, as well as the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner, supported by an appointed Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE. As the Chair of the Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Mayor works with partners across the region and beyond to deliver regeneration and economic development, and co-ordinate the long-term programmes that will transform West Yorkshire.
The Mayor also brings the region greater influence within Government at national level, including on economic recovery, the power to shape Government policy and access further funding.
Read Tracy Brabin's Mayoral pledges for West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
With the Mayor of West Yorkshire as its directly-elected chair, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together the local authorities of
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, working in partnership with the LEP and the City of York.
This way of working combines the insights and benefits of private sector knowledge and expertise through the LEP with robust, transparent, public sector governance, accountability and oversight from the Combined
Authority. This is important as the region takes on further devolved powers and funding from central Government. Together, we are working hard to make our region be recognised globally as a place with a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers and lives supported by a sustainable environment and world-class infrastructure.
It means we can put the long term needs of our communities and the people who live and work in West Yorkshire at the heart of everything we do,
ensuing we can support inclusive growth and supporting the needs of our region's employers. We also play a central role in travel across West Yorkshire, operating
the Metro network of almost 14,000 bus stops, travel centres and public transport information across the region, and working closely with West Yorkshire bus operators to improve services and the bus network. Metro supports free and subsidised travel, concessionary fares, transport to and from school for more than 40,000 West Yorkshire pupils, and manages the MCard travel card.
In this section
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Find out more about the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
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Mayoral Pledges
My pledges are rooted in the region and have been made with you in mind. I know that I can use the opportunities the West Yorkshire Mayor has to make our communities the best to grow up in, and the best to grow old in. -
What does the Mayor do?
The Mayor has a number of specific powers. Find out what they are and how they fit with partner councils and The LEP. -
Devolution
The devolution deal will bring at least an additional £1.8 billion public investment into local control over the next 30 years, and is the biggest deal of its kind.
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The Combined Authority
Learn more about West Yorkshire Combined Authority and how we work in partnership with local councils and businesses.
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The devolution deal
Read how the devolution deal sets out the new powers, funding and responsibilities which will be transferred from central Government to West Yorkshire.
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What does the devolution deal mean for my area?
Discover what the devolution deal means for the area of West Yorkshire you live in.
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Mayoral Green Jobs Gateway
Align your business with the Mayor’s pledge to create 1,000 well paid green jobs for young people.
Read the latest news from the Mayor
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Sally Wainwright to headline Mayor of West Yorkshire’s International Women’s Day event
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Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, is hosting an International Women's Day event, headlined by Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright.
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Mayors call on Government to protect local bus services and provide certainty for passengers
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Tracy Brabin joined other Metro Mayors in writing to the Department for Transport calling for clarity about funding for vital bus services
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Have your say on plans to transform West Yorkshire buses
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People in West Yorkshire are being invited to give their views on proposals to make the region’s bus network easier to navigate.

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire works alongside the leaders of the councils in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield) to help make the region an even better place to live, work, visit and do business.
The Mayor is also responsible for functions previously exercised by the Police and Crime Commissioner including setting out a police and crime plan and determining police and crime objectives.