Six years ago, South Yorkshire’s ability to shape its own future was limited.
While our local leaders and MPs have long been strong advocates for the region, the tools and powers needed to make real, place-based decisions were often out of reach.
Too many of the choices that affected our economy, our infrastructure, and our communities were made far from the people they impacted most.
That’s changing; and it’s changing because government is changing.
The new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and the Government’s renewed focus on empowering mayors reflect a growing recognition that local leadership is key to national renewal, including more funding flexibilities through the integrated settlement.
But devolution isn’t just about shifting power from Whitehall to mayors, it’s about giving communities more agency over the decisions that shape their lives. It’s about trusting local people to know what’s best for their places and giving them the tools to act on that knowledge.
South Yorkshire is no longer just a line on a Treasury spreadsheet or a footnote in a national strategy. We’re becoming a key partner in shaping the future of the UK economy – bringing local insight, ambition, and accountability to the table.
We’re not there yet. But we’re on the right path, and we’re walking it alongside other regions across the North and beyond.
From bringing our trams back under public control to launching the Beds for Babies scheme – which has supported nearly 2,000 children, so that every child aged five and under has a safe place to sleep – we’re showing what devolution can do when it’s rooted in the lived experiences, hopes and fears of our communities.
We’ve secured £1.5 billion in public transport funding for new buses and new trams, launched the South Yorkshire Music Hub, opened new junior parkruns, supported people back into work through the trailblazing Pathways to Work, and brought health closer to communities through Health on the High Street.
These aren’t just policies; they’re proof that change is happening and making a difference to the lives of our communities.
In May 2023, I took on responsibility for policing and crime in South Yorkshire – an important step that means we can now connect the dots between community safety, economic development, skills and transport.
We’re taking a joined-up, holistic approach to solving the issues South Yorkshire faces, one that puts people at the heart of our decision making.
It’s also why I stepped up to be the first mayor in the country to chair our region’s integrated care partnership (ICP). In complex systems like health and care, the convening power of mayors is critical. We can bring partners together, cut through bureaucracy, and focus on what really matters: better outcomes for people.
I haven’t shied away from the fact that I want South Yorkshire to be the healthiest region in the country, a hugely ambitious goal that will only be possible if we make fundamental changes to the way we support people’s health, from housing and transport to education and employment.
And we’re not just making change happen locally, we’re increasingly shaping the national conversation.
As a member of the Council of Nations and Regions and the Council of Mayors, I now have a literal seat at the table with the Prime Minister and other regional leaders. These forums aren’t just symbolic, they’re where we make the case for places like South Yorkshire.
It’s also why, a few months ago, I was proud to sign the White Rose Agreement with my friends Tracy Brabin and David Skaith, the Mayors of West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire, with the Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Luke Campbell indicating his support too.
Together, alongside The Great North, the new mayoral-led partnership, we’re building a stronger, more connected region, one that speaks with a united voice, and delivers for our people.
But, it’s never just about the mayor, and it shouldn’t be. Our mayoral combined authority (MCA) is a partnership. Our local authorities aren’t just stakeholders, collectively we are the combined authority.
I’ve always said that strong MCAs rely on strong councils, which is why I’ve consistently backed a fair local government finance settlement. We work together, we back each other, and we build on each other’s strengths.
To those developing their own MCA proposals: be bold but stay grounded.
Devolution isn’t about power for power’s sake, it’s about delivering real, meaningful change in our communities. It’s about reducing competition between places, convening partners, and taking tough decisions when needed.
Together – as mayors and MCAs – we have the chance, and the responsibility, to work closely with our communities and bring opportunity, growth and a shared sense of agency to every corner of the country.
- Find out more about the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.