Bradford Council leader elected as new West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair

The leader of Bradford Council, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, has been elected as the new chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Cllr Hinchcliffe is taking over from former chair, Cllr Peter Box, who has been appointed the new chair of the national Key Cities group.

Cllr Hinchcliffe, chair of the Combined Authority, said: “West Yorkshire Combined Authority has achieved a huge amount to benefit West Yorkshire and Leeds City Region in its first three years under Peter Box’s leadership.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the organisation through this important next phase of its development.

“The Combined Authority is still relatively young with a big ambition to transform our economy for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here.

“We have already shown, with Cllr Box as chair, that we can make devolution work in our area through the programmes we have delivered locally, which have consistently outperformed their national equivalents.

“My aim as the incoming Chair is to build on this partnership progress and to realise the full extent of our shared vision for a strong, successful and socially inclusive economy.

“This will require a meaningful devolution deal with Government that would see our region treated the same as the rest of the country.

“We will continue to be pragmatic and flexible with Government, and prepared to work with colleagues across Yorkshire to advance a deal that will bring more investment into our region and ensure decisions are taken in the best interests of the people and communities we serve. We aim for a resolution with Government before the end of 2017.

“Alongside this, we will continue to focus on delivering our £1bn-plus programme of major transport, regeneration, skills and business growth investment that will create jobs and economic opportunity for local people.

“We will also provide a strong, collective voice for the City Region nationally and internationally. We are an ambitious region full of dynamic people and businesses. We need to shout about that more.”

Councillor Hinchcliffe, who is the second Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, has been leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee, as well as its lead for employment and skills, since May 2016.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →