BARNSLEY could be voting to establish a mighty force for Yorkshire which could compete with the likes of Manchester, the West Midlands and London for influence and investment, or could be voting to kiss goodbye to £30m-a-year for South Yorkshire for the next 30 years.

Such was the flow of discussion at a debate hosted by media across South Yorkshire this week on the divisive subject of devolution.

It was chaired by Toby Foster and organised by the BBC and local newspapers including the Barnsley Chronicle to help tackle the thorny issue as voters in Barnsley and Doncaster choose which option for devolution they prefer: a Sheffield City Region deal with a South Yorkshire Mayor, or a ‘wider Yorkshire’ deal with a Yorkshire Mayor.

The latter is an option the government says we can’t have, but those promoting it hope a convincing show of support from the people of Barnsley and Doncaster in the ongoing community poll which closes next week will help convince ministers.

The panel included the leader of Sheffield Council Julie Dore and leader of Rotherham Council Chris Read. But leader of Barnsley Council Sir Steve Houghton refused to take part, as did Doncaster’s Mayor Ros Jones, arguing that it was inappropriate as only Barnsley and Doncaster were holding a vote.

Instead John Grogan, Labour MP for Keighley, and Conservative Richard Foster, leader of Craven Council, joined the panel to argue for wider Yorkshire - something Sheffield’s leader poured scorn on: “I am sorry but I have to say this. I think it’s quite remarkable that we have representatives from Keighley and Craven coming down to South Yorkshire to explain to Barnsley and Doncaster people what’s best for them when their own leaders aren’t prepared to turn up.”

Craven’s leader Coun Foster said the difficulty people faced getting around Yorkshire by rail for work or leisure was one of the first things a Yorkshire devolved power could sort out: “Today, I got on the train in West Yorkshire. It would have cost me £5.20 to go to Wakefield. Because I came to Sheffield, it’s cost me £21. Things like that could be solved through a Yorkshire deal.”

Mr Grogan MP was invited to represent wider Yorkshire, but began his contribution by suggesting the best way forward was to continue with the South Yorkshire deal and elect a South Yorkshire Mayor in May, but between now and then, to get all Yorkshire’s council leaders together to discuss how the whole county can come together.

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“We’re losing out in South Yorkshire, and as a city in Sheffield, we’re losing out to Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London, so we’ve got to do a deal, and I don’t think people would forgive us if we don’t.

“How about this for a deal, how about proceeding with South Yorkshire next May, but in the next few weeks, before the end of January, all the councils in Yorkshire getting together, and agreeing on a stage two, an election of a mayor for the whole of Yorkshire, at a later stage with a date to be determined, possibly by 2020. That is a deal that I think could be done.”

There was consensus across the panel that the South Yorkshire deal would not prevent a wider Yorkshire option at a later date.

Coun Foster said: “There’s Yorkshire tax payers’ money gone into Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, and everywhere else because there’s no deal on the table.

“I don’t think the other leaders ever wanted to stop the South Yorkshire deal going ahead, it was a case of could it then be combined into Yorkshire, we’ve never stubbornly said we didn’t want it to go ahead.

“To me, the whole of Yorkshire makes a lot of sense.”

Sheffield’s leader Coun Dore said she would need a commitment from Barnsley and Doncaster to progress the Sheffield City Region deal before beginning any talks about a wider Yorkshire deal.

“If we got a commitment to do that, I have always said that I would sit around the table with anyone that makes a better offer to Sheffield.

“If we do the South Yorkshire deal, and then at any time in the future, if another option becomes available, that offers something better, to Sheffield, then I do not object to engaging with that process.”

Mr Grogan added: “I think it’s very positive what the leaders are saying, but we’ve got to bring Barnsley and Doncaster with us as well. They’ve got to be comfortable with this process.

“They’re holding a referendum, we’ll see the results of that on December 21.

“I think a lot can be achieved. It’s not going to be done by Christmas, that would be ambitious. What I’m saying is January 31. I think a lot can be done.

“It is complex, but it’s not rocket science. It could be done.”

The debate will be broadcast in full on BBC Radio Sheffield today from 9am.

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Transitional deal could be considered

LEADER of Barnsley Council Sir Steve Houghton has told the Chronicle he could potentially support the idea of a South Yorkshire devolution deal being a ‘transitional’ arrangement until a wider Yorkshire deal could be struck.

Voting is currently underway across Barnsley in a community poll to determine which devolution option is preferred by Barnsley voters.

Sir Steve said the results will be respected and if Barnsley people choose the Sheffield City Region deal, then that will happen regardless.

But if they choose the wider Yorkshire option he would be prepared to consider adopting the South Yorkshire option on a transitional basis until the wider Yorkshire deal is pulled together - its critics argue there is no Yorkshire deal on the table at this stage.

Sir Steve said: “I would be happy to look at a two-stage process with the South Yorkshire deal as a transitional arrangement, as long as there is a guarantee, and I stress that, an absolute guarantee that we can be part of a wider Yorkshire deal, because if that is what Barnsley people vote for that is what’s got to happen.”

At a debate to be broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield this morning, which Sir Steve did not attend, Labour MP for Keighley John Grogan proposes that the Sheffield City Region mayoral vote goes ahead as planned next May, but before that all Yorkshire’s leaders get together to discuss a ‘two stage’ process of establishing a wider Yorkshire devolution deal.

Postal votes have to be returned by Wednesday and the result will be declared on Thursday.