Hull and East Riding devolution deal 'on the table', leader says

Leaders of Hull, left, and the East Riding of Yorkshire, right, agree a devolution deal

A draft devolution deal for East Yorkshire "is on the table", according to a leader involved in the talks.

Hull and the East Riding are the only two areas of Yorkshire yet to have secured a deal from the government.

Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said following talks with Hull City Council she was "very hopeful" of the area getting an elected mayor and combined authority.

It was "absolutely the right way forward for our region", she added.

Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, is hopeful of the area getting a mayoral combined authority

Ms Handley said the move, subject to government approval, would result in "more funding and power to make important decisions at a local level", which she said would "put East Yorkshire in control of its own destiny".

Speaking at a full meeting of the council on Tuesday evening, the Conservative outlined how any proposal would be subject to a public consultation rather than a referendum before being instituted.

She added that she would be prepared to ditch the deal if the independent public consultation showed most people were opposed.

The deal is likely to be formally unveiled by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during his Autumn Statement on November 22.

Analysis: Sarah Sanderson, BBC Humberside political reporter

It's been a long time coming but finally Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire have got a devolution deal in their sights.

The word devolution doesn't mean a lot to many people but it would mean powers will be handed down from central government to this region so that local decisions can be made about things like transport and investment opportunities.

It's hoped this draft devolution deal will be announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement next week.

The question is, will the chancellor also make a devolution announcement for Northern Lincolnshire and Greater Lincolnshire?

All eyes will be on Jeremy Hunt next week.

She added: "We do not want to be the only area of Yorkshire without a devolution deal, or miss out on the greater powers and funding that are only open to devolved areas.

"We want to be trailblazers and tap into the opportunities that Manchester and the West Midlands have access to.

"However, I have always made it clear that it has to be the right deal for our area.

In June, when talks between the two authorities were announced, Mike Ross, Lib Dem leader of Hull City Council, said the lack of progress in getting a devolution deal was holding the area back.