Yorkshire devolution deal: Charles Brook, partner at Poppleton & Appleby

As devolution has once again become the current hot topic in Yorkshire, Bdaily is now going to put a spotlight on the progress of the proposed ‘One Yorkshire’ devolution deal.

Ever since the agreed £900m devolution deal for the Sheffield City Region (SCR) was postponed, there has been a question mark as to when, or if ever, a deal will be struck to see our region’s local authorities gain powers devolved from the government.

Throughout Autumn, Bdaily is setting out to give the business people of Yorkshire the opportunity to voice their opinions on the prospect of a ‘Yorkshire One’ devolution deal.

This week I spoke with Charles Brook, partner at the Huddersfield-based insolvency practitioners and business recovery specialists, Poppleton & Appleby.

Hi Charles, so do you believe that devolving powers from the Government to regions across the UK is a good idea?

One of the benefits (and many would say deficiencies) of centralised government is that the decision-makers are largely protected from the, at times, self-serving and factional bickering that besets local government.

Our MPs may live in, represent and serve their local community but their participation in the central government process tends to blunt the barbs of social and political comment which are more inclined to affect councillors who live and work in the fiery hearth of the community. This can mean that decisions are made in a more dispassionate temper and are arguably better considered by Central Government.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that the average person on the street has any true understanding of what Government does. But for some reason, everyone has an opinion on devolving powers to the regions as if that, of itself, would help to resolve all the things about central government that they think is wrong but which they don’t really understand anyway.

Generally, I don’t believe that devolved decision processes produce better decisions than centrally managed policy.

Could you give a brief explanation as to why you support or don’t support a Yorkshire-wide devolution deal?

Some element of devolution may be beneficial as regards specific aspects of policy. Health, Education, Planning and Transport/Infrastructure budgets are probably best managed locally, but I wouldn’t advocate devolving any ability to raise taxes locally beyond Council Tax.

For the reasons already given above regarding devolving powers generally, I have little confidence that locally operating career politicians could function any better than the central government does. The scope for additional bureaucratic waste is terrifying and the likely national cost of auditing the devolved authorities would be breath-taking and wasteful.

Sheffield City Region previously agreed to a £900m devolution deal before it was postponed. Do you think having devolution deals for different parts of the region is beneficial or detrimental towards Yorkshire’s economy?

I believe this to be detrimental and induces additional competition within the region that is unhealthy when we already face competition with other regions as well as other countries. Our economy generally is simply not strong enough to withstand these additional pressures. The diversion of resources, finance, commitment and focus to micro-zones within the wider region is simply moving the region further away from what we ought to be aiming for – greater say in National affairs.

What issues do you think will greatly benefit from a devolution deal?

Certain aspects of the following: - Social Care, Health, Education, Local transport and infrastructure, but not tax raising.

Do you see the devolving of powers help you/your business? If so, how?

If you were to ask me if I would have more work to do, then the answer is “yes”. I’m an Insolvency Practitioner and a Business Recovery specialist. I believe that increased locally devolved powers would be more likely to create additional hardship for a great many businesses across the region as they struggle to compete nationally.

Many believe that a Yorkshire devolution deal would be a major step towards realising a Northern Powerhouse. Do you agree?

I disagree. A Northern Powerhouse suggests that the region has a significant influence on or is imperative to the general health of the national economy.

Devolving significant powers may well have the opposite effect by creating competing regional factions. In my opinion, we should be demonstrating how essential our region is to the health of the National economy and work in unison with the other regions through active involvement in central governance.

I’m a proud Yorkshireman, but it’s what we contribute that makes our region great. I believe it is little short of arrogance to think that we could necessarily function better as a devolved region.

What would mark a successful devolution deal for you?

Every deal must accommodate different positions, commercial, financial, political, religious and social. That means compromise.

There isn’t a single one of these aspects in which we don’t already have a compromised position rather than the ideal position. I suppose, if any one of these elements were improved for everybody while the others weren’t compromised any more than they already are, that would mark a successful devolution deal.

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