West Yorkshire mass transit: Tracy Brabin could get powers to help with tram project, Angela Rayner says
Tracy Brabin has staked her reputation on the success of the £2.5bn mass transit project, which would connect Leeds and Bradford as well as Elland Road and the White Rose Centre.
Andy Burnham’s ambitions for fiscal devolution could see Mayor Tracy Brabin able to collect taxes and approve West Yorkshire’s tram system herself, a senior Cabinet minister has said.
Angela Rayner, the returning Local Government Secretary under the new Prime Minister, cited Ms Brabin’s tram plans as an area where devolution needs to go further.
The mayor has staked her reputation on the success of the £2.5bn project, which would connect Leeds and Bradford as well as Elland Road and the White Rose Centre.
The project has hit a few bumps, with the proposed completion date being pushed back to the late 2030s after Whitehall told the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to change its process.
The Department for Transport is also insisting that Ms Brabin puts together a business case for a bus network as well as trams, before it approves the most cost effective proposal.
Ms Rayner believes that the mayor should be able to approve the tram system herself, and raise funds through tax collection.
She told the BBC: “I often hear that the frustration is we could get 10,000 homes built, but we don’t get the transport.
“The tram for instance in Leeds for example, the mayor Tracy Brabin wants to drive these changes and her frustration is that she had to go to different parts of Government and say can you do this in the time I needed, because then I can drive the economy.
“So breaking down those barriers and giving powers in areas where they need it, we’ll be able to collectively drive economic growth.”
Mr Burnham has made devolution a centrepiece of his project, to increase trust in politics and drive economic growth.
Yesterday, he launched No10 North at Heron House in Manchester, which he says will be in charge pushing powers out across the country.
The new Prime Minister will work for the site at least once a week, while Ms Rayner and his de-facto deputy First Secretary Louise Haigh will be there more often.
On the first day of No10 North, Mr Burnham invited Yorkshire’s metro mayors along with businesses and entrepreneurs to take part in the inaugural meeting of National Economic Council.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “An important and exciting moment for South Yorkshire; being able to put our plans for economic growth in front of a Prime Minister who knows both the opportunities and barriers all too well.
“And we’ll be having that conversation right here in the North.”
Afterwards, Ms Brabin told The Yorkshire Post: “The Secretary of State is absolutely right that a tram for West Yorkshire would be transformative – unlocking new homes, jobs and opportunities that will benefit generations to come.
"At our meeting at No10 North, the Prime Minister made it crystal clear that mayors will be pivotal to driving the economic change we desperately need, with public transport playing a key role.
"Empowering Mayors with the tools and powers we need to deliver for our regions simply makes sense – ultimately, it will boost the fortunes of the entire country."
As Greater Manchester mayor, one of Mr Burnham’s key successes was creating an integrated transport system, with tram, buses and bikes, called the Bee Network.
In West Yorkshire, Ms Brabin is looking to mirror that with the Weaver Network, while Mr Coppard is launching the South Yorkshire People’s Network.