MAYOR RESPONDS TO NEW ENGLISH DEVOLUTION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT BILL

Published 10 July 2025 at 4:01pm

Responding to the publication of the Government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said:

“When I first stood to be Mayor, I made a promise to fight for more power, more control, and more say for the people of South Yorkshire and we’re delivering on that promise. The Government’s new Devolution Bill marks a major step forward for us, trusting us to know what’s best for our communities and making a real difference to people’s lives with decisions responding to our needs, challenges and opportunities.

“Devolution isn’t a destination, it’s a journey, and together in South Yorkshire we’ve already come a long way. We’ve taken control of Supertram and we’re doing the same for our buses. We’re working hard to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport with a decision on it coming soon, we’re creating a bigger and better economy, becoming the UK’s first Investment Zone, and we’re backing culture and our creative industries.

“We’re putting victims and communities first in our new Police and Crime Plan to make people safer, and through our ambition to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region the UK we’re tackling health inequalities and helping children stay active and healthy. 

“South Yorkshire is what devolution looks like, putting people and place over politics.”