West Yorkshire Combined Authority's controversial Leeds-based rebrand kicked into long grass by bosses

Bosses at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority unanimously rejected a proposal to change its name to the Leeds City Region Combined Authority.

But a rebrand could be reconsidered if the area strikes a long-awaited deal to secure devolved powers from the Government, a meeting heard today.

One committee member, Councillor Simon Cooke, said the idea was unnecessary and premature and had just served "to p*** a few people off".

He said that "names matter a lot" and criticised the scope of a consultation with businesses, which had supported the rebranding on the basis that the Leeds name had greater national and international appeal.

Cllr Cooke, leader of the Conservatives on Bradford Council, said: "Any change that we make, hopefully in line with some kind of deal relating to more devolution, we will support that.

"But whatever it is, let's hope that any name change is made not simply by talking to a few convenient businessmen but is actually made by engaging extensively with the public, because it is their authority."

Councillor Peter Box, the Labour leader of Wakefield Council who chairs the combined authority, said: "I agree entirely and it's a shame we didn't have that consultation when somebody came up with the title Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Labour leader of Bradford Council, said a devolution deal should be their priority, and a name change "should go with" it.

She added: "Regardless of the name, I will always be Bradford and we will always be Yorkshire."

The meeting heard the combined authority wanted to secure a meeting as soon as possible with Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid to try to press ahead with a devolution deal.

While other cities now have elected mayors and new powers, an agreement for the Leeds area has stalled amid local wrangling over the towns and cities that such a deal should encompass.