The aim of this one-day event organised by the White Rose Consortium for the North of England (WRCN) is to gather views from across Yorkshire and the North of England on devolution, the Northern Powerhouse, and ‘City Deals’, so as to reflect on and understand the impact, potential and challenges of the new agenda.

We will hear from the key actors involved in the debate, namely national and local politicians, local authorities representatives, civil society and third sectors groups, and academics.

The APPG on reform, decentralisation and devolution is participating in this event, and the Chair of their inquiry on “Better devolution for the whole UK”, Lord Bob Kerslake, will be one of our keynote speakers. Hence, the workshop will also offer an opportunity to collect further evidence from the stakeholders in the North of England, and the views emerging from the panels throughout the day will feed into the work of the inquiry.

The event will close with the launch of the WRCN eBook “the Idea and Identity of the North”.

Programme:

11:45-12:10 Registration & Refreshments

12:10-12:20 Welcome—Dr Richard Hayton, POLIS, University of Leeds & founding member of the WRCN network

12:20-12:50 Opening Address: “Devolution, Dynamics, Dilemmas: Beyond the Impedimenta State?” Professor Martin Jones, University of Sheffield

12:50-13:30 Keynote Speech: “Devolution Inquiry: What is happening and what are your views?”—Lord Bob Kerslake, Chair of the inquiry on “Better Devolution for the Whole UK”, APPG on reform, decentralisation and devolution

13:30-14:00 Light Lunch & Refreshments

14:10-15:00 Roundtable I: Devolution & City Deals—what’s next for Yorkshire?

Speakers: Tom Riordan (Chief Executive, Leeds City Council); Peter Box (Leader of Wakefield Council & Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority); James Henderson (Director of Policy, Performance and Communications, Sheffield City Council); Lord Christopher Haskins (Chair, Humber LEP).

Chair: Dr Craig Berry, SPERI, University of Sheffield & WRCN

15:00-15:40 Roundtable II: Devolution & City Deals—the view from the grassroots

Speakers: Prof. Paul Salveson (Convenor, Hannah Mitchell Foundation); Vicky Seddon (Unlock Democracy & Sheffield for Democracy); Leila Taleb (JUST West Yorkshire & Same Skies Collective); Diana Wallis (Yorkshire First)

Chair: Dr Arianna Giovannini, SPERI, University of Sheffield & WRCN

15:40-16:20 Roundtable III: City Deals: a sustainable model of governance for the North of England? Evidence from research

Speakers: Dr Andrew Mycock (University of Huddersfield); Prof. Matthew Flinders & Dr Brenton Prosser (University of Sheffield); Dr Paul Greenhalgh & Kevin Muldoon-Smith (Northumbria University); Prof. Martin Smith (University of York)

Chair: Dr Sandra Leòn, University of York & WRCN

16:20-17:15 Presentation and launch of the WRCN eBook “The Politics of the North: governance, territory and identity in Northern England” (Dr Richard Hayton & Dr Arianna Giovannini), followed by a drinks reception

The event will be held in the Electrical Engineering Building, LT1 52 - the location can be found on the map at this link.