Sheffield paves way for mayor election next year

The ruling Labour group will recommend councillors agree the deal at a special council meeting to be held on March 18.

Ratifying the agreement will trigger the first £30 million annual payment next month from the Government agreed as part of the deal.

The other three South Yorkshire councils have already ratified the deal which was agreed in draft form with Chancellor George Osborne last year.

But Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore demanded changes in the agreement.

Coun Dore said an amendment to the law which will allow neighbouring areas to join the devolution deal and changes to the proposed powers of the mayor had satisfied her demands.

She said: “We have stood up for Sheffield to get these results and by taking a strong line we have delivered the demands we set out.”

She added: “For the average person on the street this means instead of those out of touch Tory ministers setting policy that benefits London and the South East we can do it in the North in a waay that benefits the North.

But the council’s approach to the devolution discussions was criticised by Sheffield Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dem group leader Coun Colin Ross said: “We are glad Julie Dore has finally got her act together, shown some leadership and called this meeting and stopped stringing along our City Region partners.

“We welcome more powers from government and the £900million of extra investment coming into Sheffield City Region to help our local economy which is a direct result of Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrats in the Coalition working hard to get devolution deals for City Regions.”