East Riding and Hull Meet Government for Devolution Talks

Tuesday, 3 August 2021 06:54

By Matthew Pells & Joe Gerrard, Local Democracy Reporter

East Riding Council leaders are meeting with the Government today for further talks on devolution.

The talks today a will be around a proposal submitted several months ago to create a combined mayoral authority with Hull.

Since then the Government has introduced a new concept called "County Deals"

East Riding Leader, Councillor Jonathan Owen says he'll be seeking more details on those today but expects the discussions to centre on the existing proposals.

The leader added Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has also floated ‘County Deals’ which the council wanted more clarity on, but not if it led to a merger with Hull.

Cllr David Nolan, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, said such deals were a “concern” if mergers were involved and that they raised “more questions than answers”.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled proposals for the deals, which offer areas outside cities similar powers to metro mayors, earlier this month.

Downing Street stated they would be “bespoke” and give areas more control over transport, skills and local economies, with more details set to be unveiled in the autumn.

East Riding Council Leader Jonathan Owen wants to find out more at today's meeting.

East Riding's Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Cllr Denis Healy said he felt the deals were a sign that the “mood music” from government was changing on devolution.

He added he did not want the East Riding to be