"Historic" Devolution Deal For Sheffield
The Chancellor is in Sheffield later to announce a major devolution deal for the city.
George Osborne is in Sheffield today to sign a "historic" devolution deal for the region.
The Chancellor will sign a deal with civic leaders from South Yorkshire that will see it vote for a new, directly-elected Mayor, in what he will hail as the most fundamental shake-up of local government for a generation. Sheffield City Region is one of 38 towns, cities, counties and regions which submitted proposals to Westminster to take control of how public money is spent in their area. As part of the deal, the Sheffield City Region Mayor will be elected for the first time in 2017 by voters across South Yorkshire. The Mayor will oversee a range of powers devolved from government including responsibility over transport budgets; franchised bus services and strategic planning while the deal also includes additional devolved powers for the area’s Combined Authority. This includes a new gain share deal of £30 million a year for 30 years - giving Sheffield the power to use new funding to boost local growth and invest in local manufacturing and innovation. Mr Osborne said: “Sheffield is forging ahead in the Northern Powerhouse, which this historic deal proves is taking shape. “I want to thank the civic leaders of South Yorkshire who have worked with me to embrace this opportunity. "It has the power to change the shape of local government in the region in a way that would have been unthinkable even just a few years ago. "For local people, it will mean the decisions that affect them being taken locally. “Manchester is not a one-off – far from it. In becoming the second great northern city to sign up to managing its own affairs with this ambitious agreement, Sheffield City Region is playing a vital part in helping to build the Northern Powerhouse.” More follows...