Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as a result of the changes in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, how many extra powers will be given to Sheffield City Council; and how many powers currently by Sheffield City Council be transferred to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will establish ‘Strategic Authorities’ to lead in our regions. Strategic authorities will not replace councils. Strategic authorities will be responsible for unlocking investment, infrastructure and economic growth across larger geographies, while local authorities will continue to be responsible for the critical daily services residents rely on and improving local neighbourhoods.

Only one power will be transferred to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority from its constituent councils via the Bill and only in specific circumstances. The Authority will take on responsibility for preparing reports assessing local road traffic levels and forecasting their growth, but only in relation to roads that are part of the Authority’s Key Route Network.

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will also be given other powers, including over housing, land acquisition, and economic development which it will exercise concurrently with its constituent councils. As a constituent member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council will have a key role in the decision-making about how most of these powers are used. Full detail of which powers will be held by Strategic Authorities were published alongside the Bill in Devolution Framework Explainers.