West Yorkshire Combined Authority

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
DankJae · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Formation	1 April 2014
Preceding	Leeds City Region Local Economic Partnership
Type	Combined authority
Region	West Yorkshire
Headquarters	Halifax
Membership	Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield
Leader	Mayor of West Yorkshire

Contents

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is a statutory combined authority covering the metropolitan counties of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. It was established to exercise strategic functions across West Yorkshire and the City of Bradford, coordinating policies among local councils such as Leeds City Council, Bradford Council, Kirklees Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. The authority works closely with national institutions including HM Treasury, the Department for Transport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

History

The authority traces its origins to regional partnerships like the Leeds City Region Partnership and the Yorkshire Forward development agency, which operated in the aftermath of industrial changes following the decline of textiles and coal in the Industrial Revolution-era towns of Bradford and Huddersfield. Discussions about devolution intensified after the 2008 financial crisis and the formation of combined authorities such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Negotiations involving George Osborne and the Northern Powerhouse agenda produced a devolution deal leading to statutory creation in 2014, with subsequent expansions of powers following deals signed in the administrations of Theresa May and Boris Johnson. Key moments included the introduction of elected mayors in the wake of mayoral precedents like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester and infrastructure funding agreements similar to those made with Tees Valley Combined Authority.

The authority is chaired by the directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire, a role influenced by precedents such as Sadiq Khan in London and Steve Rotheram in Liverpool. Its board includes leaders from the five constituent councils—Councillor Judith Blake-era equivalents from Leeds, representatives akin to Tracy Brabin-style figures from Bradford, and chief executives similar to those of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Kirklees Council. The governance model draws on statutes like the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and interacts with bodies including the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Yorkshire and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership. Oversight mechanisms reflect scrutiny arrangements used by the Scottish Parliament and the Greater London Authority.

Statutory competences include transport functions mirrored in the Transport for Greater Manchester model, strategic planning comparable to London Plan-style duties, and devolved funding arrangements inspired by Devolution deals in England. The authority negotiates funding from National Infrastructure Commission-backed programmes, commissions skills initiatives akin to Leeds City College collaborations, and partners with agencies such as Homes England for housing delivery. It can influence investment decisions by institutions like the European Investment Bank (historically), coordinate responses with NHS England and the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, and administer grants similar to those from the European Regional Development Fund.

Revenue streams include precepts analogous to those levied in Merseyside, central grants from HM Treasury such as Single Investment Funds, and capital receipts deployed for projects like the Leeds Bradford Airport area improvements. The finance model references audit arrangements used by the National Audit Office and accounting standards from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Major capital programmes have sought borrowing powers under provisions related to the Local Government Act 2003 and have engaged with investors such as the British Business Bank and pension funds similar to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

Transport responsibilities encompass coordination of bus franchising policies reflecting reforms seen in Greater Manchester and integration with rail bodies including Network Rail and Northern Trains. Projects have tied into schemes like the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme and proposals for mass transit inspired by systems such as the Sheffield Supertram and the Tyne and Wear Metro. The authority engages with airports such as Leeds Bradford Airport, ports like Humber Ports interests, and cycle initiatives comparable to Leeds Cycle City. It also negotiates with national programmes including High Speed rail debates exemplified by High Speed 2.

Economic strategies draw on the industrial heritage of Bradford Textile Industry and the service sector prominence of Leeds Financial Quarter, linking to institutions like University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Bradford University, Huddersfield University, Wakefield College and Kirklees College. Housing programmes coordinate with Homes England and local housing associations such as Calderdale Community Land Trust-style bodies to address affordability issues highlighted in reports by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Resolution Foundation. Regeneration initiatives reference schemes similar to Liverpool Waters and Salford Quays, while enterprise support echoes models from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone and incubators akin to Leeds Innovation Centre.

Accountability structures include scrutiny committees modeled on practices from the London Assembly and audit functions resonant with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Public engagement leverages consultation approaches used by Transport for London and participatory budgeting experiments comparable to those in Bristol. The authority liaises with civil society groups such as Citizens Advice, trades unions like the Trades Union Congress, business groups including the Confederation of British Industry and chambers of commerce from Leeds Chamber of Commerce-style networks. Electoral accountability occurs through mayoral elections administered by Electoral Commission-regulated processes and affected by national legislation such as the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Category:Local government in West Yorkshire