Decision details

Purpose of Report: To consider the transport implications of York's proposed membership of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Cabinet will be asked to consider the transport implications and agree any resulting actions.

Due to the delayed consultation by DCLG on a draft order for the Combined Authority this item has been deferred to the December Cabinet.

Recommended:That Council be recommended to:

i)             Welcome the publication of the Government consultation paper which invites the submission of views by Thursday 2 January 2014;

ii)            Endorse the proposed constitutional arrangements and functions of the Combined Authority as set out in the consultation paper;

iii)          Approve the proposed approach to responding to the consultation;

iv)      Authorise the Chief Executive (in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Leader) to make a formal response to the Department for Communities and Local Government confirming the Council’s support for the establishment of the Combined Authority and take such other steps as are considered appropriate to facilitate the preparation of the Order; and

iv)          Note the next steps and timetable and in particular that providing Government is satisfied that the proposals for a Combined Authority for West Yorkshire command wide local support and also meet the required statutory conditions, the Secretary of State will invite Parliament to approve the Order establishing the Combined Authority.

v)           Authorise further work and discussions with the Combined Authority regarding any legislative developments that would allow York to become a full member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority given the strong economic and transport case.

vi)          Authorise further work and discussions with the Combined Authority regarding the functional arrangements of the Combined Authority to ensure any changes in the medium to longer term are in York’s best interests.

Reason:     To allow the further development of the Combined Authority to ensure the future economic prosperity of York by accessing additional key transport funding opportunities.