SOUTH Yorkshire is losing out on more than £500,000 a week due to the delays over its devolution deal which would see powers and funding handed down from government to local leaders, an MP says.
Back in May, the government gave the go-ahead to a South Yorkshire devolution deal. The deal will mean the city region will have control over policy areas such as transport, housing and skills.
However, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Angela Smith is calling for the four leaders of the Sheffield City Region council to ‘get on’ with the announcement, so mayor Dan Jarvis can get on with the job of delivering investment in needed projects designed to strengthen the South Yorkshire economy.
“Given that at stake for the City Region is £30m per year for 30 years, every week of delay costs the region some £570,000,” said Ms Smith.
“This is on top of the £30m that was lost to the region in the first year of the City Region Mayor’s period in office, thanks to the failure to agree to a deal at that point on the part of the four local authority leaders.
“The Mayor has finally got a deal supported by all South Yorkshire’s local authority leaders and the government. But we have already waited too long and I remain intensely frustrated that money earmarked for investment here in South Yorkshire has instead sat in the Treasury.
“Now we have a deal agreed by all parties, but still no sign of the consultation required before the Mayor can make full use of the powers available to him under the devolutionary settlement. This is frankly disappointing and not really good enough.
“I call on all four leaders to make this a priority and get on with the necessary consultations. Every week of delay is another week where money could be invested to improve the lives of every citizen in south Yorkshire. My constituents demand nothing less.”
