Emergency devolution funding to be pumped into Kirklees and help pandemic recovery

The cash is part of a £5m pot of emergency devolution funding that has been unlocked by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), a group of leading councillors and officers from West Yorkshire councils, plus York, that works on major infrastructure projects.

Kirklees’ share of the “immediate support” is £942,000. It is earmarked for “urgent cultural and economic initiatives”.

WYCA says that that without action to support the region’s recovery, unemployment risks rising to 14% in 2021, with more than £15bn being wiped off the value of the region’s economy and the job market not recovering to pre-crisis levels until 2027.

The money handed to Kirklees and other neighbouring authorities comes from the £38 million annual “gainshare” funding secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal agreed a year ago.

The people of West Yorkshire will be asked to elect the region’s first mayor on May 6.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of WYCA and leader of Bradford Council, said: “We’re making the limited resources we have available go as far as possible, but if we’re to properly support people, communities and the economy reach its full potential, we will need much greater levels of investment.”