South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Name	South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Formation	2014 (as Sheffield City Region Combined Authority), 2022 (adoption of mayoral model)
Type	Combined authority, Mayoral combined authority
Headquarters	11 Broad Street West, Sheffield
Region	South Yorkshire
Membership	Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield
Leader title	Mayor of South Yorkshire
Leader name	Oliver Coppard
Website	southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is the combined authority for the South Yorkshire region of England, operating with a directly elected mayor since 2022. It was originally established in 2014 as the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority before adopting its current name and governance model. The authority is a strategic body that brings together the four constituent metropolitan boroughs to coordinate economic development, transport, and regeneration across the region, with its headquarters located in Sheffield.

History and formation

The authority's origins lie in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, which provided the legal framework for creating combined authorities. Following a series of negotiations and a public consultation, the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority was formally established in 2014 by an Order in Council under the Coalition Government. This initial formation included the four South Yorkshire districts of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, alongside lower-tier authorities from neighbouring Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire like Chesterfield and Bassetlaw. The devolution agenda advanced by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and the subsequent Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 paved the way for a deeper mayoral model. After a failed attempt to secure a devolution deal in 2015, a renewed agreement was reached with the UK Government in 2022, leading to the first election for the Mayor of South Yorkshire and the body's renaming to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Governance and structure

The governance structure is defined by its constitution and the 2022 devolution deal. The authority is led by the directly elected Mayor of South Yorkshire, who chairs the main decision-making body comprising the leader of each constituent council: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, and Sheffield City Council. Key committees include an Overview and Scrutiny Committee and an Audit Committee, which provide checks and balances. The authority's day-to-day operations are managed by a chief executive and officers, with its main offices situated at 11 Broad Street West in Sheffield City Centre. It works in partnership with organisations like the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

Functions and responsibilities

The authority exercises strategic powers devolved from Whitehall and Westminster, primarily focused on economic growth and infrastructure. Its core functions include developing and implementing the South Yorkshire Local Industrial Strategy and overseeing a significant City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement from the Department for Transport. It is responsible for the strategic planning of transport networks, including the management of the Sheffield Supertram network and major bus corridors. Further duties encompass adult education and skills funding through the Adult Education Budget, the remediation of brownfield land for housing, and the delivery of region-wide business support programmes. It also has a role in cultural development and flood risk management across the county.

Mayoral role and powers

The Mayor of South Yorkshire is a directly elected figure with a four-year term, serving as the visible leader and chair of the combined authority. The mayor holds specific powers, including control over a consolidated, multi-year transport budget and the ability to franchise bus services under an Advanced Quality Partnership scheme. The role also includes responsibility for the strategic spatial development of the region through a Spatial Development Strategy, akin to a regional plan. The mayor sets the annual budget for the authority's functions and appoints a Deputy Mayor, typically one of the council leaders. The inaugural mayor, Dan Jarvis, was elected in 2018 for the predecessor authority, with the current mayor, Oliver Coppard, elected under the new mayoral combined authority model in 2022.

Key policies and initiatives

Central to the authority's agenda is the South Yorkshire Renewal Action Plan, a post-pandemic recovery strategy focusing on jobs, skills, and health. A major infrastructure project is the renewal and potential expansion of the Sheffield Supertram network. The Get Around South Yorkshire initiative aims to integrate and improve public transport, including the introduction of contactless ticketing. In skills and innovation, key programmes include the South Yorkshire Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District centred around the AMRC and the Goldsmiths project in Sheffield. The authority also oversees the South Yorkshire Climate Action Plan, targeting net zero emissions, and invests in cultural projects like the redevelopment of Castle House and support for the Sheffield Theatres.

Member authorities

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority comprises four full constituent members, each a metropolitan borough council. These are Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, led from Barnsley Town Hall; Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, based at the Civic Office, Doncaster; Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, headquartered at Rotherham Town Hall; and Sheffield City Council, operating from the Sheffield Town Hall. These authorities provide the political leadership for the combined authority through their council leaders and are collectively responsible for the strategic direction of the region. Non-constituent members from adjoining areas, such as Chesterfield Borough Council, previously participated in earlier structures but are not part of the current mayoral combined authority model established in 2022.

Category:Combined authorities in England Category:Local government in South Yorkshire Category:Organisations based in Sheffield