Doncaster breathes life into devolution deal

The authority’s overview and scrutiny committee unanimously backed the draft agreement and recommended the full council also offer its approval.

The committee came to its verdict after quizzing Sheffield City Region Combined Authority chairman Steve Houghton and Doncaster executive mayor Ros Jones.

The positive recommendation from Doncaster is a timely vote of confidence in the deal which has begun to look fragile after Sheffield City Council suggested it might withdraw its support.

Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore has expressed concern that the wording of the agreement will effectively give the proposed elected mayor for the area a blanket veto over his cabinet of council leaders on all decisions.

The draft deal also proposed to include neighbouring districts in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire but not give their residents the right to vote for the mayor.

Coun Dore indicated that she wanted both issues addressed before Sheffield confirmed its support for the deal.

The draft deal was agreed by councillors last year and Chancellor George Osborne travelled to the region to sign it in a public ceremony.

But the agreement has to be formally approved by all the local authorities involved before it comes into force.

If approved the agreement will see a mayor elected next year to wield powers transferred from the Government in the biggest change in the way the area is run in a generation.

Discussions are ongoing over arrangements for other parts of Yorkshire although there is difficulty in finding agreement over the areas they should cover, in particular whether there should be separate deals for North, East and West Yorkshire or a single overarching agreement.