Founded in 2014, West Yorkshire Combined Authority works with the mayor, local councils and partners to create a better connected, more prosperous and safer region for everyone who lives and works here. We do this by working together on policies and projects across West Yorkshire.
We work with local authorities in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield to deliver our mission. But we are not a council. You don’t pay your police precept to us and we don’t collect your bins - your local authority does this.
Our vision is to work together for a brighter future for everyone. The West Yorkshire Plan details five key missions. The Combined Authority and our partners share these to improve lives and communities in the region.
We are creating a West Yorkshire that is:
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The government gives the Combined Authority funding and power to make decisions for our region.
This is called devolution. It means that decisions are made by people who understand our region best.
March 2020 was a key moment for us, when the five West Yorkshire local authorities united to secure a £1.8 billion devolution deal with the Government. Now, local leaders make decisions that affect the people of West Yorkshire.
Our decision-making process is clear and transparent. That’s why we make decisions in public meetings.
The elected Mayor of West Yorkshire is a member of the Combined Authority and chairs its meetings alongside elected councillors from Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, York and an additional member from the West Yorkshire Business Board.
Want to stay updated on our decisions? Join us in person or watch the Combined Authority’s webcasts online. You can also read the reports and minutes from all meetings.
Our values guide us. These core principles shape our path and keep us focused.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together local authorities to make our region a better place to live. The government gives combined authorities funding and power to make decisions locally. This means decisions are made by people who know their region best.
Tracy Brabin is the Mayor of West Yorkshire, first elected in 2021 and re-elected for a second term in 2024.
The Mayor represents 2.4 million residents across the region and works with Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield council leaders, business representatives and partners and is the directly elected Chair of the Combined Authority. Providing a single voice for West Yorkshire, the Mayor has powers and responsibilities in relation to transport, economic development, provision of skills training and housing.
The Mayor’s remit also includes the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner and has appointed a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE. This role includes listening to the needs of communities, setting the objectives for the police force and holding the Chief Constable to account.
