Agenda item

The Chief Executive submitted a report to update members on the implementation of the Council’s decision to apply to be a full constituent member of the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and to enable members to consider provisional independent analysis of the outcomes of the Sheffield City Region Devolution Consultation Exercise. The report also updated members on the legal action commenced by Derbyshire County Council against the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority seeking to challenge the Devolution Consultation Exercise.

Members had previously resolved to apply to be a full constituent member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority at the meeting of Council held on 6 April, 2016. In addition, Members delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in liaison with the Leader, to take the necessary further steps as part of the process to put into effect that resolution. In line with the statutory process, a Governance Review had been carried out and a Scheme of Governance drafted for the proposed Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority. The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, made the delegated decision on 27 June, 2016 to endorse the publication of documents that formed the Governance Review and Scheme of Governance for a Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority for consultation.

The Chief Executive presented to Members the results of the consultation process which had taken place from 1July to 12 August, 2016 which included the findings of the online questionnaire hosted, and independently analysed by Ipsos MORI as well as an analysis of Derbyshire County Council’s consultation response. The summary of the outcomes of the consultation process concluded that, despite a widespread Derbyshire County Council led campaign against the proposals, there had been a good response and strong support for the devolution proposals in Chesterfield.

Members were asked to consider the recommendation that a planned submission for the expansion of the Combined Authority by Sheffield City Region Combined Authority area to include Chesterfield Borough to the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government be endorsed.

RESOLVED –

1.   That Chesterfield Borough Council agrees to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to consider the full analysis of the outcomes of the Sheffield City Region Devolution Consultation Exercise and any consequential revisions that may need to be made to the Governance Review and Scheme of Governance and, if appropriate, taking full account of that analysis and opinions expressed by members at the council meeting on the provisional independent analysis of the outcomes of the Sheffield City Region Devolution Consultation Exercise to:

a)   endorse the planned submission by Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government of key documents relating to the establishment of a Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority; and

b)   consent to the parliamentary order for the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority to be laid.

2.   That the legal challenge commenced by Derbyshire County Council against the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority seeking to challenge the Devolution Consultation Exercise be noted and that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Regulatory and Local Government Law Manager, be authorised to take any steps as appropriate in connection with the challenge.