Monthly column for March by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire – originally published by The Press.

When York and North Yorkshire was granted a devolution deal by Government, it gave our region more powers and investment. It also gave us parity with our neighbours, who have had devolution deals for much longer, and the opportunity to forge powerful partnerships.

Yesterday, I joined Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, to sign the White Rose Agreement. This is bringing local Mayors together to champion Yorkshire and open the door to greater levels of investment.

You will all benefit from this. The White Rose Agreement strengthens our efforts to improve connectivity, boost the region’s economy, attract further investment and keep everyone safe across Yorkshire. Backed by councils in each area, we will create a unified voice for Yorkshire on a national and international level.

We are seeking to improve our rail network, making calls to increase capacity at York, Leeds and Sheffield stations. We want to see an upgrade to the East Coast Mainline and will continue to advocate for improved rail routes across the breadth of the north. Lord Blunkett is working with us on this, leading a review on improving rail connections and services for the north. This will be a big boost for everyone who travels in and through our area and supports my commitment to getting a half-hourly rail service linking Scarborough and York.

Many of you will use buses commuting into neighbouring areas. This is another benefit of our partnership – Mayors will work together to improve cross-border bus links, connecting towns and cities across Yorkshire.

Our region desperately needs a more integrated and accessible public transport network, as well as significant improvements to rail and greater opportunities for safer walking and cycling. Transport is key not just to supporting economic growth, but to better mental and physical health and will support my commitment to keeping everyone safe. It’s something we all rely on.

In York and North Yorkshire, we have real momentum with transport now. Last week, at the latest meeting of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, we agreed the priorities and direction we need to take around transport for our region. This paves the way to produce a Local Transport Plan for the region, due to go out to public consultation by the end of the year.

Initial plans include growing the bus network, exploring the case for franchising, improving ticketing and information, and identifying areas with poor public transport accessibility. For integrated transport, we’re looking at various options – such as having a single ticket across buses, trains and other forms of transport, much like they have in London and on the continent.

We also have plans to appoint an Active Travel Commissioner who will deliver initiatives to encourage walking, cycling and wheeling. How transport can contribute to reduced carbon emissions and accessibility would be embedded across all transport schemes. This will support our ambition to be the first carbon negative region.

As well as the connectivity and opportunity that devolution unlocks inside out region, the White Rose Agreement, and work with other mayors across the north, build on the transformative power of devolution and the potential it offers to unlock growth in every corner of the country.

Mayors will collaborate on our emerging Local Growth Plans, which map out how we can attract investment, create jobs and meet our ambitions to be a carbon negative region. If you are interested in more information on our Local Growth Plan, we are launching further public engagement tomorrow, to ensure what we’re proposing truly reflects the whole region.

Growth and jobs are important, and its vital communities feel safe too. The White Rose Agreement will ensure we are working together to tackle cross-border crime, organised crime and youth crime prevention, and tackle violence against women and girls, keeping communities safe. As a region, we will be launching our police and crime plan on March 31. This sets out the strategic direction of North Yorkshire Police, and uses the feedback from many of you, who took part in the recent police and crime consultation.

Yorkshire has everything, and don’t we know it! As Mayors, we’re championing it as a great place to visit and do business. We live in an incredibly beautiful place, and we also have world-leading universities and research centres, a thriving manufacturing sector and well-established food and farming sector.

I am excited at what lies ahead and what opportunities the White Rose Agreement gives us. It builds on the partnerships we have right across the north too. Last month’s Convention of the North saw leaders agree to join-up on research, pursue clean energy goals and create a Northern cluster of AI excellence – something we’re already progressing by submitting a bid to become an AI growth zone.

Before devolution came into play, the voice for York and North Yorkshire was limited. We’re now very much in the mix. Relationships with Government, our neighbours and across the north are only going from strength to strength. Options for further collaboration are on the horizon too, as other areas, such as Hull and East Yorkshire, devolve. I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together, enabling healthy and thriving communities.

You can keep up to date with the work of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority by signing-up to our newsletter, available on our website here.

Published on Thursday 13 March 2025