Less Whitehall. More local control.

The Leeds City Region Pilot places devolved power in the heart of Yorkshire & Humber’s financial capital.

This pilot scheme is a government-backed partnership between Leeds and ten neighbouring local authorities. By removing many powers from Whitehall and putting them in the financial hub of the region, the intention is to boost the area’s economic performance.

Simon Foy, Yorkshire Forward’s executive director of strategy says: “The Leeds City Region is an economic powerhouse which has an impact far beyond the city’s narrow, administrative boundaries. The city region has wasted no time in setting itself bold ambitions to minimise the impact of the downturn, and to accelerate and maximise growth during the upturn.”

What will the benefits be?

In short: more jobs and greater prosperity. The precise nature of the powers the Leeds City Region is to be given is yet to be determined. But, if those that have been requested are granted, there are ambitious plans afoot.

Ambitious plans such as?

• A huge boost for the construction industry. With work beginning on 3,000 homes in the next two years.
• A £15m innovation fund. Providing investment for 1,000 firms and 2,000 individuals.
• An Accelerated Development Zone in the Aire Valley.

What funding will the region control?

Although, as mentioned, the exact demarcation of power between London and Leeds is yet to be established, the scheme’s advocates hope that the responsibility for skills, innovation, housing, regeneration and transport will reside in the very region in which the money will be spent.

The budget will not represent an increase in the sum currently spent by central government. But it is hoped that much greater efficiencies will result. One thing is certain, however. And that’s that those holding the purse strings will have a far greater local knowledge and affinity.

The cost of the pilot?

£350,000. With funding by the 11 (Leeds and 10 neighbouring) councils. Spending on housing, innovation and other areas will come from existing funding streams.

Overall

John Yeomans is a senior partner in the York-based law firm, Harrowell Shaftoe, and chairman of the Leeds City Region’s Business Leadership Group. He sees clear benefits of the pilot: “It means a larger and more dynamic market and more jobs and prosperity… It means a drive to improve competitiveness, productivity, creativity and skills and improving the level of business support. And support to specific sectors – such as financial and legal services.”

Councillor Andrew Carter, chairman of the Leeds City Region Leaders Board, reflects on the project’s timely nature and the optimism the pilot has engendered. “We will seek to transform a time of economic challenge into one of economic opportunity,” he says.