Hull City Council’s cabinet has given its backing to the proposed Hull and East Riding devolution deal.
The deal was announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement last month (22 November 2023), paving the way for the establishment of a Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, led by a directly elected mayor, who could be elected in May 2025.
Cllr Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council and levelling up minister Jacob Young signed the proposed deal on 27 November.
The cabinet voted to progress to a full public consultation on the proposed deal at a meeting on 18 December.
The detailed report setting out the case for the devolution of powers and funding from the government and Hull and East Yorkshire will now be put to Full Council for its views on 21 December.
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull has seen various proposals for devolution over nearly a decade.
“This is the furthest the city has ever got to achieving what is vital for the economic future of the city.
“I thank all those who have been involved in getting the city to this point. The proposal on the table is a good deal for the city.
“I have always been clear that I would not want to progress with a deal if I did not think it was in the interests of Hull and East Yorkshire more generally. Through a hard negotiation process, that good deal has been achieved.”
“This is not just in terms of what is on offer now but what the possibilities it opens up in the future.
The Hull and East Yorkshire deal includes £400m (£13.34m per year) investment funding over 30 years, to drive growth and deliver local priorities.
This includes up to £15m in 2024/25 to support transport, flood and coastal erosion programmes across the area, including a coastal regeneration programme in the East Riding; £5m in 2024/25 to support local economic growth priorities, including any further expansion of Siemens Gamesa at Alexandra Dock in Hull; and £4.6m for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25.
A commitment has also been made to rail electrification between Hull and Sheffield, and Hull and Leeds, integrating East Yorkshire into the Northern Powerhouse Rail network.
The region would receive new powers to shape local skills provision, drive regeneration and build more affordable homes, and improve and integrate the regional transport network.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet voted to back the deal earlier this month.
