West Yorkshire Plan sets out five missions to build a better region

16 June 2023

West Yorkshire Plan sets out five missions to build a better region

Mayor Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire’s five council leaders will today launch five new “regional missions”, aimed at boosting progress on jobs, housing, transport, climate and crime.

At a major event in Leeds today (Friday 16th May), Mayor Brabin will unveil “The West Yorkshire Plan” – a series of long-term solutions aimed at tackling insecure work, expensive housing, unreliable public transport, the effects of climate change and crime.

These five areas – agreed in partnership with the public, private and charity sector – will be targeted for sweeping investments until 2040, as part of a wider plan to build a “brighter West Yorkshire that works for all”.

Mayor Brabin will be joined on stage by West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, as well as by Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Cllr Jane Scullion, Cllr Shabir Pandor, Cllr James Lewis, and Cllr Denise Jeffery, the leaders of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils respectively.

Here, the Deputy Mayor and leaders will speak about each of the five missions in turn, which are:

1. A prosperous West Yorkshire, built on an inclusive economy with well-paid jobs.
2. A happy West Yorkshire, full of great places and healthy communities.
3. A well-connected West Yorkshire, held together by a strong transport system.
4. A sustainable West Yorkshire, rich with greener lives and communities.
5. A safe West Yorkshire, free of the fear of crime so everyone can flourish.

Commenting on the plan, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:

“These five missions will form the building blocks of a stronger, happier, better-connected, greener and safer West Yorkshire. Together, they will focus minds and allow us to transform lives across the region, as we work to deliver a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.

“Long-term problems require long-term solutions, and here in West Yorkshire, we’re laser focused on the big issues that really matter to people. Whether that’s a lack of economic opportunity, unaffordable housing, unreliable public transport, the cost of energy or crime.

“Devolution is working for West Yorkshire. Over the past two years, we’ve delivered well-paid jobs, affordable homes, cheaper bus fares, greener communities and safer streets. But by working together, with a clear and serious plan for the future, we can deliver so much more.”

Mission one, a prosperous West Yorkshire, details plans to raise productivity and living standards, eradicate child poverty, and ensure good quality work is available for all the region’s diverse communities.

Commenting on the first mission, Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Business, Economy and Innovation Committee, said:

“Economic growth is the backbone of our vision to build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all. By growing our economy, we’ll create better and fairer jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets and providing a brighter future for our young people.

“But we can only deliver these jobs in partnership with the private sector – by creating the conditions for business to flourish upwards and investment to flow inwards. Only a serious, long-term plan for growth will inspire the confidence of business to invest.

“Our regional economy is worth over £60 billion, more than nine EU nations. Our potential is limitless, yet our productivity is slower than the national average. By catching up, we can make good quality work available for all, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Employment and Skills Committee, added:

“Access to secure, skilled jobs that reward people with proper liveable pay should be available to all.  No household should be struggling to put food on the table and no child should have to grow up in poverty, because their parents or carers are without the skills they need to thrive. Our number one mission is to tackle in-work poverty in West Yorkshire, by driving up and widening out prosperity in the region.

“That means equipping people with the skills they need to secure better-paid work, while encouraging employers to recognise the value of a happy, skilled and diverse workforce, with lifelong learning and flexible opportunities available for all.

“Devolution has allowed us to upskill and re-train thousands more adults, working with local businesses to tailor our courses towards real jobs in the local labour market. With greater devolution of skills and a single, flexible funding pot, we’ll be able to go so much further.”

Mission two, a happy West Yorkshire, details plans to boost access to culture and green spaces, deliver more truly affordable housing, and bring healthy life expectancy in line with the national average.

Speaking about the second mission, Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee, said:

“There should be a basic right to safe and affordable housing. Without it, life becomes just about surviving, let alone thriving. That’s why we want to ensure that by 2040, we have enough affordable, sustainable and high-quality homes for everyone in West Yorkshire.

“That means building on our partnership with Homes England, which will boost the delivery of 38,000 homes, to deliver hundreds of thousands more through deeper partnerships with housing providers and a new devolution deal with Government.

“But a place is more than just its housing. That’s why we’re committed to investing in our fast-growing creative sector, to make West Yorkshire a more vibrant, attractive place to live, with culture at the heart of our mission to drive up happiness and wellbeing.”

Mission three, a well-connected West Yorkshire, details plans to make buses more reliable and affordable, build a fully-integrated mass transit system, and make active travel the easiest choice for short journeys.

Speaking about the third mission, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“A modern, integrated public transport system is our only route to a stronger, better-connected West Yorkshire.

“To get there, we’re committed to bringing buses back under greater public control, building a tap-in, tap-out mass transit system, and providing cheap and easy-to-use active travel options for everyone, everywhere.

“With devolution, we want to deliver the affordable, reliable and sustainable public transport system our region deserves, encouraging people to ditch the car and use the train, tram, bike or bus instead.”

Mission four, a sustainable West Yorkshire, outlines plans to deliver a Net Zero carbon economy by 2038, by growing the green economy through cleaner transport, warmer homes and greener businesses.

Commenting on the fourth mission, Cllr Jane Scullion, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, said:

“Here in West Yorkshire, we’ve pledged to deliver a Net Zero carbon economy by 2038 – over a decade ahead of Government.

“Because whether we’re breathing in polluted air, fixing up our home or business after a now yearly flood, or paying sky-high energy bills at the end of the month, we’re all living with the damaging effects of climate change and our over-reliance on fossil fuels.

“To green our region and tackle the cost of living crisis at source, we urgently need to invest in the clean transport, renewable energies and green jobs of the future, as we continue to make thousands of homes warmer and hundreds of businesses cleaner and cheaper to run.”

Mission five, a safe West Yorkshire, outlines plans to cut neighbourhood crime, reduce rates of reoffending, raise confidence in the police, and improve feelings of safety amongst women and girls.

Commenting on the fifth mission, Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, said:

“Crime is an issue of fairness. Women and girls should not have to settle for being at an increased risk of domestic or sexual abuse. People should not be made vulnerable at the hands of repeat offenders. Neighbourhoods should not be left to suffer the blight of antisocial behaviour alone.

“We’ve listened to the public about their priorities for policing, and by working with West Yorkshire Police across our five districts, we’ll focus resources on the issues that matter most to people – violence against women and girls, neighbourhood crime, and reoffending.

“By recruiting more police officers, investing in victims’ services and empowering communities with cash seized from criminals, we’ll continue our mission to build a safer, fairer West Yorkshire, free of the paralysing fear of crime and its life ruining consequences.”