Mayor of West Yorkshire reflects on successes and disappointments of first year in office

Tracy Brabin was elected on May 9 2021, and on Monday she reflected on the past year - which has included major disappointments as well as successes.

The role of elected mayor was created as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, and the position includes powers over local spending on transport and infrastructure schemes, adult skills, crime and policing and climate policies.

Ms Brabin pointed to the successes of her first year, including the creation of 500 Green jobs for young people, securing £200m for a West Yorkshire mass transit system and committing a £40m fund to tackle the climate emergency.

Bot the year has also featured some lows – particularly news that the Government would be scrapping much of its planned Northern Powerhouse Rail line, including a high speed rail stop in Bradford, and the Leeds leg of HS2.

And a bid to Government for cash to improve West Yorkshire’s bus services fell massively short. Out of the £168m Ms Brabin bid for, the Government announced it was supplying just £70m.

In a statement to mark a year in power, Mr Brabin pointed out she had launched an enhanced partnership with bus operators to lower fares and improve services, delivered a new Police and Crime Plan with a focus on Women and Girls Safety, funded the Mayor’s Screen Diversity Programme and expanded the number of low earners eligible for free training via the devolved Adult Education Budget.