New Assembly team

A new team at the top has been elected to lead the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly over the coming 12 months.

Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council has been confirmed as the Chair of the Assembly, with Paul Jagger, representing the Learning and Skills Council, as the Deputy Chair and Chair of Scrutiny.

And for the first time, chairs of regional boards to help steer millions of pounds of spending in Yorkshire and Humber on issues such as planning, transport, housing, scrutiny and sustainable development have also been elected.

Each of these boards will report to a Regional Executive Board, a co-ordinating body to co-ordinate regional policy, resources and activity on issues such as advising on Government spending and ensuring a joined up approach to development and investment in Yorkshire and Humber.

“This new way of working reflects the best way of addressing both what the Government wants assemblies to oversee and what the region needs to help it prosper," said Councillor Box.

"The Assembly has always been a unique way of bringing together stakeholders representing the region’s five million residents and this extension of our joint working should help people in the region come up with the best solutions for tackling the challenges facing the region."

Other appointments include:

Regional Housing Board

Chair- Cllr Kris Hopkins, Bradford Council;
Deputy Chair- Patricia Farrell, Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum

This board will provide regional leadership for housing and ensures delivery of the regional housing strategy and is responsible for producing, updating and monitoring the Regional Housing Strategy and its associated investment plan. This investment plan is used to advice Ministers on how to spend around £150m in the region each year.

Regional Planning Board

Chair- Cllr Steve Galloway, City of York Council;
Deputy Chair- To be confirmed

This Board will be the key forum for discussing, deciding and overseeing the development and delivery of the regional spatial strategy and planning policy, preparing and and reviewing the Yorkshire and Humber Plan, which guides local authority planning development frameworks

Regional Transport Board

Chair- Chris Glen, Federation of Small Businesses;
Deputy Chair- Cllr Liz Redfern, North Lincolnshire Council

This Board will provide advice to Government and other bodies on the region’s transport investment priorities, will prepare and review the Regional Transport Strategy and will work with partners to maximize funding available for transport in Yorkshire and Humber.

Sustainable Development Board

Chair- Cllr Arthur Barker, Hambleton District Council;
Deputy Chair- Shelagh Marshall, Public Health

This Board will prepare and present advice on the sustainable development implications being considered by the Assembly, the Regional Executive Board and the Housing, Planning and Transport Boards and review the region’s performance on sustainable development

Regional Scrutiny Board

Chair: Paul Jagger, LSC and Assembly Deputy Chair

This Board’s role is to undertake the scrutiny of Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, and