The Sheffield City Region devolution deal has been agreed (Jan 14) by the Mayor and all four Leaders and will now go to public consultation.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “We stand at a critical moment for our country. As we leave the European Union, securing further powers and resources for South Yorkshire and building greater co-operation across Yorkshire will ensure we are best prepared for whatever Brexit brings.

“My responsibility to the people of South Yorkshire is to secure the greatest resources possible for them, particularly after a long decade of austerity and generations of systemic under-investment. We need to grow our economy, create more good jobs, invest in our transport network, improve the skills of our workforce and do all we can to protect our environment. Doing this will enable us to build a stronger and more sustainable region in which more people want to live, work and invest. We can do this far faster, and with much greater impact, with the significant additional powers and resources that devolution would deliver.”

Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are very pleased to have got to the point where we can do this devolution deal.

"We have always been clear that this is the best deal for the people of Sheffield and the wider city region, and will also be the key to opening further doors to access more funding from different sources.

“This is a deal for people, in particular young people across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, and it will enable us to invest in their skills and equip them to take jobs in growing sectors. It’s about investing in infrastructure, including transport links, and supporting local businesses to become good employers and provide jobs. But at the heart of all this is investment in the future for people who live, work and learn in Sheffield."

The announcement of Sheffield striving towards devolution compliments the Northern Powerhouse agenda, aiming to boost economic growth in the North of England, particularly in the ‘Core Cities’ of Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle.

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