Partnership draws up devolution wish-list to help Humber grow

A LIST of powers that could be transferred from Whitehall to the Humber to help grow the area’s economy will be drawn up.
A devolution plan for the Humber is to be drawn upA devolution plan for the Humber is to be drawn up
A devolution plan for the Humber is to be drawn up

But the proposals to be drawn up by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership - the body which brings together local councils and business leaders - will not answer the question over whether those powers should be held by an elected mayor for the Humber, Greater Yorkshire or any other area.

George Osborne’s offer to give significant economic powers to areas which agree to have mayors has triggered a fierce debate over whether the whole of Yorkshire should have a single elected mayor or three or four covering different parts of the region.

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Hull City Council leader Stephen Brady has backed the Yorkshire-wide idea while leading business organisations in the area have called for a Humber mayor.

In the absence of political agreement, the LEP’s proposals will focus on the economic problems facing the Humber and the powers needed to tackle them.

A statement from the LEP board said: “Our area has an exciting future and a compelling case for the devolution of powers and resources, building on the progress to date.

“At the request of local authority leaders, the Board has agreed that the LEP will lead the development of policy proposals for devolution that would benefit the Humber area. This work will involve local authorities, business, education and other stakeholders.”

The Government has set a deadline of its spending review, due to conclude in the autumn, for devolution deals to be completed.

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