Talks offer new hope on end to Yorkshire devolution deadlock

The meeting represents a significant step forward in a process which had taken on an increasingly party political tone in recent weeks.

Labour council leaders in West Yorkshire supporting the proposed Leeds City Region deal have been at loggerheads with Conservative MPs and other authorities in the region, including North Yorkshire County Council, wanting a broader Greater Yorkshire agreement.

Coun Andrew Carter, leader of the Conservative group on Leeds City Council, said the approach by Labour leaders so far had been “cack-handed in the extreme” and it was a “great pity that progress hasn’t been made before”.

He said: “We want to work towards putting a possible solution to the Chancellor and we need now to meet with politicians in North Yorkshire as soon as possible.”

Coun Carter added: “We all accept that the prize available to us all is a significant devolution of powers, including money-raising powers, that can only benefit the North in general.”

The Government is offering to hand over powers and money to groups of councils which join together and agree to the creation of new elected mayors.

South Yorkshire councils have already agreed a deal but authorities in North, West and East Yorkshire have been unable to reach agreement and the Government has insisted there is a consensus before any deals are done.