Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee and Audit and Governance Committee	15 January 2024

Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer

Combined Authority Governance: Development of the Constitution for the Combined Authority

Introduction

1. This report provides the Audit and Governance Committee and the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee with a further opportunity to consider the contents of the draft Constitution for the Combined Authority.

General context and Background

2. Members will be aware of the report which was received by the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee on 11 December 2023 in relation to the draft Constitution of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.  At that meeting, Members requested that a further meeting be convened, to allow both the Audit and Governance Committee and the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee to further consider the draft Constitution.

3. Subsequently, on 19 December 2023, the Secretary of State made The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023, which took effect from 20 December 2023.  Consequently, on 20 December 2023, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority came into being.

4. Further work has been undertaken on the draft Constitution, with an ‘almost-final’ version being competed and made available on 5 January 2024.  A copy of that revised draft is attached as Appendix A.  Members are invited to consider that document, in the context of the background set out in the report to the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee on 11 December 2023, and to provide such feedback as they consider appropriate for consideration by the Combined Authority at its inaugural meeting on 22 January 2024.

Alternative Options Considered

5. The report contains the proposals for the setting up of the Combined Authority which is legal requirement.  As such there are no other options for consideration.

Financial Implications

6. There are no financial implications in relation to this report.

Legal Implications

7. The legal implications of the proposed Constitution are contained in the body of the report to the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee dated 11 December 2023.

Other Implications

8. Given the information-only nature of the report, there are no direct implications from this report.

Recommendations

9. That the Committees consider the contents of the report and the draft Combined Authority Constitution, and provides such feedback as the Committees consider appropriate for consideration by the Combined Authority on 22 January 2024.

Reason: To ensure the Committees are aware of the contents of the draft Combined Authority Constitution, and have provided comments thereon.

Appendices:

Appendix A:       Draft Constitution of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Contact Details

Author: Suzan Harrington Acting Monitoring Officer	Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Bryn Roberts Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	ü	Date	3 January 2024
Specialist Implications Officer(s): Financial:                                      Legal: Name: Debbie Mitchell                   Name: Bryn Roberts Title: Chief Finance Officer             Title: Director of Governance
Wards Affected:					All	ü

For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

Report to the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee dated 11 December 2023