The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025
The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 establishes a new combined authority covering the areas of Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, with an elected mayor taking office from May 2025.
The order grants significant powers over transport, housing, regeneration, and economic development, while establishing clear governance structures and funding mechanisms.
The combined authority will have the ability to exercise functions previously held by constituent councils and other public bodies, aimed at improving economic, social, and environmental wellbeing across the region.
Arguments For
Creates a unified governance structure for Hull and East Yorkshire, enabling coordinated regional planning and development
Establishes strong democratic accountability through a directly elected mayor with clear powers and responsibilities
Provides new powers for strategic transport planning and infrastructure development across the combined region
Enables more effective economic development through consolidated housing and regeneration powers
Allows for greater local control over funding and resource allocation to address regional priorities
Arguments Against
Adds an additional layer of governance complexity to existing local government structures
Requires significant coordination between existing councils and the new combined authority
Implementation costs and resource requirements for establishing new administrative structures
Potential challenges in balancing priorities between urban Hull and rural East Riding areas
Risk of overlap or confusion regarding responsibilities between different levels of local government
The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 103, 104, 104C and , 105 and , 105A, , and , 107A, 107B, 107D, (c)(ii), , , and , 107E to , 107G(b) and , 114 and and 117(1A) and of, paragraph 3 of Schedule 5A to, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 5B to, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 ('the 2009 Act').
The order draws legal authority from the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, which provides the statutory framework for creating combined authorities.
The Secretary of State exercises specific powers from multiple sections of this Act to establish the new combined authority and define its functions.
The Secretary of State, having regard to a proposal prepared and submitted under section 109A of the 2009 Act, considers that- (a) the making of this Order is likely to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of some or all of the people who live or work in the Area; (b) the making of this Order is appropriate having regard to the need- (i) to secure effective and convenient local government, and (ii) to reflect the identities and interests of local communities
The formation of the combined authority must meet specific criteria under law.
The Secretary of State has determined that creating this authority will benefit residents economically, socially, and environmentally while maintaining effective local governance and preserving community identity.
This decision follows a formal proposal from the local areas involved.
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