City looks for deal to boost rural economy

Following the ground-breaking agreements for the Leeds and Sheffield city regions which devolved control over more than £2 billion of funding for transport infrastructure, skills and regeneration investment, York Council is working on a bid to boost the rural economy.

York – already part of the Leeds City Region Deal and a member of the West Yorkshire Plus combined authority which will control transport investment – will work with the North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.

Council leader James Alexander said: “Obviously any deal would have to complement the Leeds City Region deal we are already part of. There are areas of the agricultural economy that would benefit from a devolution of powers to the North Yorkshire region, as well as greater self determination for York.”

Mr Alexander said one possible benefit could be a “growth hub” for small businesses in York. He also confirmed the city is close to a deal with a private sector partner for a £30m investment broadband infrastructure.

“We have identified a partner for broadband and we are confident we will be able to progress with that quite quickly,” he said. “We have a commitment to have fast broadband coverage to the vast majority of homes in York by 2015. We are confident we will be able to match that, and probably beat it.”

Earlier this month the Government announced that Yorkshire’s major economies would be handed unprecedented control over hundreds of millions of pounds of funding for transport, infrastructure and training for young people.

The Leeds City Region deal will include a new apprenticeship academy and control of a £1bn transport fund, the Sheffield City Region will see the creation 4,000 new apprenticeships and a £700m South Yorkshire investment fund.