WYCA responds to inclusion of devolution measures in Queen's Speech
Negotiations with government renewed on available powers, freedoms and funding and debate about mayoral governance commences.
Responding to today�s inclusion of devolution measures in today�s Queen�s Speech, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Chair, Cllr Peter Box said,
�We have already achieved a first-stage devolution agreement and we now have the opportunity to build upon that position and take a central role in delivering the Northern Powerhouse. And to do this we need to build upon our successes to date which include gaining the country�s largest Growth Deal from the government, and uniquely, �420m to establish a �1bn fund for the kinds of infrastructure projects that will underpin economic growth.
�Conversations about how we take devolution forward have already begun with Mr Osborne and the new Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Greg Clarke, with whom we already have a positive working relationship.
�We are keen to renew negotiations with government on the available powers, freedoms and funding through the devolution process. Our expectation is that these should be game-changing in terms of meeting our long-term ambition of making this region a net contributor to the UK economy and it is on that basis that we have started the debate about mayoral governance.�
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