Agenda item

Jacqui Gedman, Chief Executive and Julie Muscroft, Service Director – Legal, Governance and Commissioning, to provide an update on the Devolution consultation process.

The following documentation is available via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s website (https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/) and attached for information:

·       West Yorkshire Mayoral Scheme

·       West Yorkshire Governance Review

·       Devolution Consultation Paper Version for ‘Your Voice’

The Committee received an update from Julie Muscroft, Service Director – Legal, Governance and Commissioning on the Devolution consultation process.  Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of the Council and Jacqui Gedman, Chief Executive were also in attendance for this item.

The following key points were noted:-

-      The consultation was being run by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).  WYCA had produced the supporting plan, materials and activity log of when specific actions would take place.

-      Kirklees Council had a devolution link on the website to the WYCA site with access to the survey.

-      The survey started on 26 May 2020 and after 1 week, 43% of the overall target of a 1,000 responses had been received, with circa 600 responses to date.  The response rate from Wakefield had been especially strong and Kirklees had asked WYCA to work with the communication teams in each of the districts to look at what had worked particularly well, to ensure that this could be replicated across all authorities.  Circa 9% of responses received in the first week were from Kirklees.

-      IPSOS Mori were due to carry out a mid-point review and once completed there would be an opportunity to start in depth discussions on specific themes and issues.

-      The consultation would finish on 19 July 2020 and the subsequent analysis would be concluded on 23 August 2020.  A first report and analysis would be published circa 24 August 2020, with consideration of the final draft report by partner councils in early September.  This would then go to Executive and Council meetings with the subsequent submission of the report and the outcomes from it, sent to the Secretary of State.  It was expected that the draft order and final consent would be received by the end of October / beginning of November, with a view to that going back to Cabinet and Council for a final decision.

-      WYCA had held a scrutiny session on 22 May 2020 and a further session was scheduled for 10 July 2020.

-      There were separate pieces of work ongoing which would be reported back in relation to precept powers and funding, alongside other issues such as how concurrent powers would work, the role of the proposed deputy mayor, increased emphasis on tackling the climate emergency and the Police and Crime Panel.

The Committee asked a number of questions and a summary of responses is noted below:-

-      Political balance would be derived from how the electorate of West Yorkshire had voted as an entirety.  Councillor Pandor outlined that Kirklees would continue to argue for as wide a representation as possible and wished to reassure the Committee that there would be more involvement from councillors across the region, adding that the key rationale was the unlocking of millions of pounds of investment.

-      It was noted that the Governance Review indicated that there could be 2 Deputy Mayors, including one for policing and crime and there was no reference to this in the consultation questionnaire.  In response, Councillor Pandor advised that the Police and Crime Commissioner currently received payment of in excess of £80,000 and that role would cease.  The second Deputy Mayor would be a Council leader so there would be no remuneration for that.  The Deputy Mayor salary would be in the region of £40-50k and there would be a further saving when the PCCs office moved into the Combined Authority.

The Chief Executive stated that she would pick up the difference between the governance review and questionnaire as a process issue.

-      A concern was raised as to the consultation process and if the feedback received would have any influence on decision making.  It was noted that the feedback would be considered as part of the report to Cabinet and Council and if there was a substantial groundswell which suggested a change was required, this would need to be picked up as part of that report and fedback into conversations with the Secretary of State.

The Service Director stated that she would seek clarification as to whether the mid-point review would be made publicly available.  A concern was raised that publication part way through could have the potential to skew results.

The Chief Executive added that this was not an open consultation, as in seeking views.  The Leaders had indicated through the negotiations at a national level that they were minded to accept the deal which would lead to an elected mayor and the consultation was on the governance arrangements around that.  If the feedback indicated that there was an overwhelming view to the contrary, then those views would be shared with national government.

-      With regards to feedback, it was acknowledged that it was important to have as wide a representation as possible.  If the mid-point analysis indicated gaps in response, efforts would be put in to ensure a representative sample.  The communication teams across West Yorkshire were working in collaboration to ensure the most meaningful consultation possible.

-      A member of the Committee expressed further concerns as to the lack of public consultation, adding that communication and engagement had been lacking at all stages of the deal making process and asked how the Council was going to engage given the short timescales.

In response, the Chief Executive advised that work was moving at pace and she was confident that mechanisms were in place to address areas of low response.

-      In response to concerns raised as to accessibility, the Committee were advised that a 2 pronged approach was being taken with WYCA leading at a regional level and local authorities reaching out a local level.

The Chair highlighted that unlike the other councils involved, the Kirklees Council website did not have an area on the home page regarding devolution.  The Chief Executive responded that this would be addressed as a matter of urgency.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

1.    Noted the information presented;

2.    Requested an update on response rates at the mid-point review stage;

3.    Recommended that accessibility, including website access, be reviewed; and

4.    Asked that consideration be given as to how best to involve community networks in the consultation.