A NEW report published today has urged Whitehall to devolve more powers and resources to elected mayors in order to make a difference.

Published by the region’s think tank, Policy Yorkshire, the report looks at how to strengthen Yorkshire’s voice at Westminster.

With the Government pledged to publish a white paper on devolution, Policy Yorkshire is calling for a new assumption that powers should be devolved to elected mayors unless there is good reason why they should be retained centrally. The Think Tank said this should be matched by giving mayors the power to raise and spend the money they need in the policy areas they have responsibility for.

The report calls also for a campaign to raise awareness and support for the concept of directly elected mayors where they already exist or are planned in the region. It points to polling by Populus last year which found that in the Yorkshire and The Humber region just 27 per cent of respondents supported the idea of directly elected mayors in England.

31 per cent believed the ones already in existence should be abolished.

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The report observes that: “The region’s Mayors need to be seen as credible figures, who the public trust to implement real change in their area.

"With a Mayor already in existence in South Yorkshire, one currently due to be elected in West Yorkshire in May and ones proposed for North and East Yorkshire, Policy Yorkshire warns that it is vital that they have parity in respect of the powers they hold. The report warns that: “The very real danger is that without this it will be difficult to ensure the kind of collaboration that is crucial to the region’s success.”

The report includes calls also by Lord Kerslake for Yorkshire to develop policy proposals which are evidence based, entrepreneurial and pro-active.

Matthew Howarth, Chair of Policy Yorkshire, said: “The insight and advice provided by the duo who headed the local government department in Whitehall should be very valuable to all those involved with planning devolution in Yorkshire. The recommendations in our report come from them, local council and business leaders and others who took part in the webinar. We hope that they provide some useful guidance to ensure that Yorkshire’s devolved structures are both effective and, very importantly, understood and supported by local people.”