South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is a devolved local government institution in England comprising the metropolitan boroughs of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, tasked with coordinating regional policies on transport, economic development, skills training, and housing to foster growth across an area of approximately 3,484 square kilometres serving 1.4 million residents.[1][2][3] Originally established as the South Yorkshire Combined Authority in April 2014 under statutory order to enable joint decision-making among the four councils, it transitioned to a mayoral structure in May 2022 following a devolution deal granting enhanced powers, including control over adult education budgets and franchised bus services.[3][4][5] Oliver Coppard, representing Labour and Co-operative, has held the position of directly elected mayor since 2022, securing re-election in May 2024 with 51% of the vote, and concurrently assumed the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in July 2024 to oversee policing priorities and budgets.[3][6][7] The SYMCA's defining mandate emphasizes evidence-based interventions to address economic inactivity and infrastructure deficits, such as through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations targeting poverty reduction and skills gaps, while maintaining accountability via public scrutiny mechanisms introduced in 2025.[8][9]History
Origins and Formation of the Combined Authority
The South Yorkshire Combined Authority was established on 1 April 2014 through The Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority Order 2014, secondary legislation enacted under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, which empowers the Secretary of State to create combined authorities upon agreement by constituent councils.[10] The authority initially operated under the branding of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to emphasize its economic focus, comprising the metropolitan borough councils of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, which together cover the former metropolitan county of South Yorkshire.[11] This formation built on prior collaborative structures, including the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) established in 2010 to drive private-sector-led economic growth, and earlier joint bodies for transport coordination such as the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority. The creation of the combined authority reflected the UK Coalition government's localism agenda, initiated under the Localism Act 2011, which sought to devolve powers from central government to local levels for better addressing regional challenges in economic regeneration, infrastructure, and skills development, rather than relying on fragmented unitary decision-making.[12] The four councils formally consented to the order, enabling the authority to exercise statutory functions collectively, including transport planning and economic strategy, superseding ad hoc arrangements. The authority's establishment predated broader devolution deals but positioned South Yorkshire to negotiate enhanced powers, with initial responsibilities centered on integrating public transport services and aligning with the LEP's growth priorities, such as advanced manufacturing and connectivity.[11] By formalizing cross-council governance, it addressed longstanding issues of coordination in a post-industrial region facing high unemployment and infrastructure needs, without requiring a directly elected mayor at inception.[13]Adoption of the Mayoral Model
The South Yorkshire Combined Authority, originally established as the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority on 1 April 2014 under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, initially functioned without a directly elected mayor, with leadership provided by a board comprising representatives from its constituent councils.[14] This non-mayoral structure allowed for collaborative decision-making on regional issues such as transport and economic development, but lacked the centralized executive authority associated with a mayor. In line with the UK government's devolution strategy outlined in the 2015 devolution deals, the Sheffield City Region entered into a devolution agreement with the government on 2 October 2015, committing to the adoption of a directly elected mayor to enhance accountability and strategic leadership.[15] The agreement, building on prior city deals from 2012 and 2014, promised enhanced powers over transport, skills, housing, and an initial £900 million investment fund over 30 years, conditional on implementing the mayoral model to provide a single point of democratic oversight.[16] Delays arose due to local political negotiations and legislative requirements, postponing the original 2017 election timeline. The legal framework for the mayoral model was enacted through secondary legislation, including the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (Election of Mayor) Order 2017, which mandated the election of a mayor and transferred associated executive functions to the role. The first election occurred on 3 May 2018, with Dan Jarvis, then MP for Barnsley Central, elected as the inaugural Mayor of South Yorkshire on a Labour ticket, receiving 47.7% of the vote in a first-past-the-post system.[17] This marked the authority's transition to a mayoral combined authority, renaming it the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority, with the mayor chairing the board and holding veto powers over key decisions to streamline regional governance.[14] The adoption faced initial local resistance, particularly from some councils concerned about diminished collective influence, but proceeded amid broader devolution momentum, enabling the mayor to assume responsibilities like managing the adult education budget from 2018 and bus franchising powers by 2023.[16] Subsequent elections in 2022 and 2024 reaffirmed the model, with the authority rebranded as the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in 2022 to reflect its geographic scope.[14]Expansion of Powers Including Police Oversight
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) expanded its powers following the initial 2015 devolution deal, which primarily focused on transport, economic development, and skills, by securing further devolved functions through subsequent agreements with central government. In 2019, SYMCA assumed control of the Adult Education Budget, enabling localized decision-making on skills provision to align with regional economic needs, including an allocation of approximately £38 million annually for training programs. This expansion built on the 2015 commitment to devolve such responsibilities, enhancing the authority's capacity to address skills gaps in sectors like advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. Additional powers in areas such as bus franchising were enacted via the Bus Services Act 2017, allowing SYMCA to pursue direct operational control over public transport services from 2023 onward, aimed at improving connectivity and reliability across the region.[18] A significant escalation occurred in 2024 with the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions to the Mayor, merging oversight of South Yorkshire Police into the mayoral role and eliminating the separate PCC position. This devolution, legislated through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024, took effect on 7 May 2024, coinciding with the election of the second Mayor. The transfer encompassed all PCC responsibilities, including setting policing priorities, budget allocation for the force (approximately £500 million annually), appointing the Chief Constable, and holding the force accountable for performance in reducing crime rates, which stood at 89.7 offenses per 1,000 population in the year ending March 2023. Proponents argued this integration would foster joined-up approaches to public safety, linking policing with transport and economic regeneration efforts, while maintaining democratic accountability via the directly elected Mayor.[19][20][21] The PCC transfer followed a public consultation launched in late 2023, which received responses supporting the move for its potential to streamline governance, though some concerns were raised about concentrating powers in one office. Prior to implementation, Mayor Oliver Coppard formally sought government approval in May 2023, emphasizing alignment with national trends seen in other mayoral authorities like Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. Post-transfer, SYMCA established a Police and Crime Plan for 2025–2029, prioritizing reductions in serious violence, improvements in victim support, and enhanced community trust, with specific targets such as increasing police officer numbers toward pre-austerity levels of around 3,000. This expansion reflects broader UK devolution efforts to localize public service delivery, though independent inspections, such as those by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, continue to scrutinize force effectiveness and ethical standards under the new structure.[22][23]Governance and Structure
Constituent Councils and Membership
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) consists of four constituent councils: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, and Sheffield City Council. These councils, representing the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire, were unified under the authority established on 1 April 2014 as the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, later rebranded to reflect its mayoral status and geographic focus.[14][3] Membership on the SYMCA Board, the authority's principal decision-making body, includes the elected Mayor of South Yorkshire as chair and one elected leader from each of the four constituent councils, granting them collective voting authority over strategic matters such as devolved transport, economic development, and regional planning.[2] Non-constituent councils—Bassetlaw District Council, Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Mansfield District Council, and North East Derbyshire District Council—hold associate status, enabling participation in oversight committees like Overview and Scrutiny but without voting rights on the Board itself.[24][3]Leadership and Decision-Making Bodies
The Mayor of South Yorkshire serves as the executive leader of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), wielding statutory powers delegated by central government over transport strategy, economic development funding, housing investment, and adult education, while also functioning as the Police and Crime Commissioner with oversight of policing and fire services.[11][25] As of October 2025, Oliver Coppard holds this position, having been re-elected in May 2024 with 51.5% of the vote in the first-past-the-post system.[3] The Mayor chairs the primary decision-making body and proposes policies, but certain executive decisions, such as budget approvals and major investments exceeding specified thresholds, require Board ratification to ensure alignment with local council priorities.[25] The SYMCA Board constitutes the core statutory decision-making entity, comprising the Mayor and the four leaders of the constituent councils—Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, and Sheffield City Council—each appointed by their respective authorities.[11][26] This ten-member body (including substitutes as needed) convenes to approve strategic plans, allocate devolved funding from the UK government—totaling £1.6 billion over 30 years as of the 2018 devolution deal—and oversee performance against objectives like economic growth and infrastructure delivery.[27] Decisions follow a transparent process outlined in the Forward Plan, with public agendas, minutes, and voting records published online; simple majority voting applies, though the Mayor holds a casting vote in ties.[25] The Board's remit emphasizes collective accountability, mitigating risks of unilateral mayoral action through council leader veto on fiscal matters.[28] Supporting the Board are three statutory committees that enhance governance and oversight. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee, drawn from non-executive members across the region, reviews Board and mayoral decisions, conducts policy inquiries, and recommends improvements, holding six to eight meetings annually to promote public engagement and effectiveness.[26] The Audit, Standards, and Risk Committee independently assures financial probity, ethical conduct, and risk management, reviewing external audits and internal controls in line with CIPFA standards.[26][28] These committees report directly to the Board, with membership independent of executive roles to uphold impartiality. Advisory mechanisms, such as the Mayoral Economic Advisory Council for expert input on growth strategies and a Business Advisory Board for private sector perspectives, inform but do not bind decisions, reflecting a hybrid public-private model established post-2014 reforms.[29] All bodies adhere to the SYMCA Constitution, incorporating Nolan Principles of public life and annual governance statements to ensure ethical, efficient operations.[28]Relationship with Local Enterprise Partnership
The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (SCR LEP), established in December 2010, initially operated across a broader geography including the four South Yorkshire councils plus districts in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derby, focusing on economic growth, business support, and skills development through initiatives like the Strategic Economic Plan.[30] In 2020, government-directed boundary changes aligned the LEP more closely with South Yorkshire by removing non-constituent areas, facilitating integration with the emerging mayoral combined authority structure.[31] Pursuant to the 2015 devolution deal and subsequent national policy shifts, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) progressively absorbed the LEP's core functions, including origination of economic policy, management of £363.7 million in Growth Deal funding across three rounds (2015, 2017, and 2021), and oversight of local growth projects in sectors like advanced manufacturing and digital innovation.[32] The LEP existed formally until 2022, after which its roles were fully embedded within SYMCA's governance to enhance democratic accountability under the elected mayor, aligning with the government's 2023 decision to withdraw central LEP core funding from 2024/25 and mandate transfers to combined authorities.[30][33] By June 2023, SYMCA replaced the LEP board with the Business Growth Board—comprising private sector leaders for operational advice—and the Mayor's Economic Advisory Council for strategic input, ensuring continuity in private sector engagement while centralizing decision-making to avoid fragmented economic strategies.[3] This integration has enabled SYMCA to directly deliver LEP-legacy programs, such as business support and skills alignment with local employers, under unified oversight rather than dual structures.[34] The former LEP's emphasis on evidence-based interventions persists through SYMCA's annual economic reporting and the 2025 South Yorkshire Growth Plan, which builds on prior Strategic Economic Plans to target productivity gains amid post-industrial recovery challenges.[35]Powers and Responsibilities
Transport and Infrastructure
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) holds devolved powers over local transport, including a consolidated budget for public transport, roads, and active travel networks, enabling strategic oversight of regional connectivity.[3][4] These responsibilities encompass franchising bus services, managing the Sheffield Supertram network, and advancing rail integrations, with the authority aiming to enhance access within South Yorkshire and to national networks.[36] In March 2025, Mayor Oliver Coppard announced plans to implement bus franchising across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, transitioning control of routes, timetables, and fares to public oversight starting in 2027, following consultations and assessments deeming it the optimal approach for network improvement amid privatization's shortcomings.[37][38][39] This decision, supported by local council leaders, seeks to address service gaps and fare inconsistencies observed post-1980s deregulation, with implementation phased to ensure continuity.[40] Rail and tram developments include the Tram Trains pilot, allowing vehicles to operate on both the Supertram system and National Rail lines, with SYMCA investing over £9 million in the new Magna station in Rotherham, featuring park-and-ride facilities.[41][42] Construction milestones, such as the October 2025 installation of lift shafts and a passenger bridge, position the station for opening in early 2026, enhancing connectivity to industrial areas.[43][44] Ongoing Supertram improvements involve rail works and network upgrades to boost reliability.[45] SYMCA's Capital Investment Programme allocates £150 million across 182 projects as of September 2024, funding transport enhancements, infrastructure rejuvenation, and active travel initiatives to support economic growth.[46] Complementary efforts include the planned Travel South Yorkshire app rollout by March 2024 for integrated ticketing and real-time information, extending to tram services.[47] These measures prioritize empirical improvements in accessibility and efficiency, drawing on devolved funding to counter historical underinvestment in regional transport.[11]Economic Development and Skills
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) exercises devolved powers over economic development, including allocation of a £30 million annual investment fund for 30 years, commencing in 2020/21, to support local growth projects such as infrastructure and business support, subject to periodic government reviews.[2] This funding, totaling £900 million, is directed by the mayor in consultation with the Local Enterprise Partnership to prioritize sectors like advanced manufacturing and clean energy.[2] The authority's Strategic Economic Plan, a 20-year framework, targets an additional £7.6 billion in gross value added (GVA) and 33,000 jobs by 2041 through pillars of growth, inclusion, and sustainability, emphasizing productivity gains in underperforming areas.[48] SYMCA's Plan for Good Growth identifies four priority areas—Sheffield City Centre and Innovation Spine, South Yorkshire Airport City, Barnsley Town Centre, and an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District—with projected investments exceeding £2 billion and up to 13,150 new jobs across tech, health, manufacturing, and clean energy sectors.[49] An Investment Zone initiative aims to leverage £1.2 billion in private investment over a decade, creating 8,000 jobs by streamlining planning and fiscal incentives.[49] In September 2025, the mayor launched a vision for the South Yorkshire Growth Plan, a 10-year strategy superseding prior plans for 2025–2035, focusing on job creation, productivity, and talent development, informed by the Mayor's Economic Advisory Council of nine industry experts.[50] The UK Shared Prosperity Fund supports these efforts by addressing economic inactivity and poverty through targeted interventions.[8] On skills, SYMCA assumed full control of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) from the 2021/22 academic year, managing approximately £39.3 million annually—equivalent to a 3% national share—to fund training for adults aged 19 and over, including statutory entitlements for free English and maths up to Level 2, essential digital skills, and courses up to Level 3.[2][51] This devolution enables tailoring provision to local employment needs, such as apprenticeships and traineeships, with spending efficiency improving markedly under mayoral oversight from 80% utilization in prior years to near-full allocation by 2024/25.[52] Providers are guided by 10 strategic targets, including progressing residents furthest from employment into sustainable jobs, boosting digital inclusion to reduce inequality, enhancing access to upskilling for career advancement, and ensuring employers secure skilled workers via customized pipelines.[53] These align with broader economic goals through a Skills Strategy and Local Skills Improvement Plan, which integrate workforce development for high-value sectors, including a Young Person’s Taskforce and Skills Bank to mitigate automation risks and support business growth.[49][54]Housing, Regeneration, and Other Devolved Functions
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) holds devolved powers to acquire, assemble, and dispose of land for housing development, commercial spaces, and supporting infrastructure, facilitating regional growth and regeneration initiatives. These include the capacity to exercise compulsory purchase orders—with agreement from the relevant constituent council—and to establish Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) to oversee local planning, land development, and regeneration in designated areas, where the Mayor assumes direct funding and legal accountability.[11] Such powers stem from the 2020 statutory devolution arrangements, enabling SYMCA to borrow against assets and integrate housing efforts with broader economic priorities.[55] In housing delivery, SYMCA administers the £53 million Brownfield Housing Fund, secured in 2020, to unlock development on contaminated or underused sites, targeting 3,300 to 4,600 new homes by March 2025 through grants to local authorities and partners.[55] This includes specific allocations, such as £225,000 in April 2025 for regional support and subsequent awards for projects like nine sites in Rotherham (submitted October 2024) and a former quarry in Barnsley (September 2025), emphasizing brownfield prioritization to minimize greenfield encroachment.[56][57][58] The January 2023 Housing Framework outlines a strategy for affordable, energy-efficient homes, incorporating £6.4 million in retrofit funding for vulnerable households to combat fuel poverty, alongside promotion of modern construction methods and urban densification to align with net zero targets by 2043.[55] Regeneration functions leverage the £500 million South Yorkshire Renewal Fund for infrastructure-linked projects that enhance employment land viability and urban environments, often coordinated with housing to address legacy industrial decline.[55] MDCs enable targeted interventions, such as strategic planning in deprived areas, with SYMCA's role extending to collaborative oversight of homelessness reduction—aiming for zero rough sleeping in Sheffield by 2025—and integration with Homes England for grant management.[11][55] Following the English Devolution White Paper of December 2024, SYMCA—as an established Mayoral Strategic Authority—gains consolidated control over housing grants, planning acceleration, and regeneration budgets, replacing fragmented national allocations to streamline delivery and reduce central oversight.[27] Other devolved elements include aligned borrowing for infrastructure supporting housing viability and oversight of energy performance standards, though empirical outcomes remain tied to local delivery capacities amid ongoing evaluations of fund utilization rates.[55][27]Mayoral Elections
2018 Election and Initial Mayor
The inaugural election for the mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield Combined Authority—predecessor to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority—was held on 3 May 2018, coinciding with local elections across the region.[59] The election employed the supplementary vote system, whereby voters ranked up to two candidates in order of preference, with second preferences redistributed from non-viable candidates to determine the winner between the top two.[60] A total of 198,238 first-preference votes were cast across the four constituent local authority areas.[59] Seven candidates stood, representing major parties and independents aligned with specific causes.[60] Labour and Co-operative Party MP Dan Jarvis, a former British Army major who had represented Barnsley Central since a 2011 by-election, secured the Labour nomination in March 2018 despite internal party debates over his dual role as MP and mayoral candidate.[61][62] The results, declared on 4 May 2018 by the Combined Authority Returning Officer, are summarized below:| Candidate | Party/Description | First Preferences | Second Preferences | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Jarvis | Labour and Co-operative Party | 122,635 | 21,519 | 144,154 |
| Ian Walker | Conservative Party | 37,738 | 12,881 | 50,619 |
| Michael Bower | Green Party | 22,318 | - | - |
| Naveen Judah | Liberal Democrats | 10,837 | - | - |
| Robert Murphy | South Yorkshire Save Our NHS (independent) | 3,002 | - | - |
| David Allen | English Democrats | 1,696 | - | - |
| Hannah Kitching | Yorkshire Party | 12 | - | - |
2022 Election
The 2022 South Yorkshire mayoral election was held on 5 May 2022 to elect the successor to incumbent Labour mayor Dan Jarvis for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, covering the metropolitan boroughs of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield.[64][65] The election employed the supplementary vote system, in which voters ranked up to two candidates by preference; if no candidate secured a majority of first-preference votes, second preferences from the eliminated lowest-polling candidates were redistributed to determine the winner.[64] Voter eligibility extended to those registered in the four constituent councils, with polling coinciding with local elections across England.[66] Six candidates contested the election, representing major parties alongside regional and minor groupings. Labour's Oliver Coppard, a former Sheffield City Region deputy mayor, emphasized economic recovery, transport improvements, and skills investment in his platform.[64] The Conservative candidate, Clive Watkinson, focused on fiscal responsibility and business growth.[64] Other contenders included Simon Biltcliffe of the Yorkshire Party, advocating devolved regional powers; Bex Whyman of the Green Party, prioritizing environmental sustainability; Joe Otten of the Liberal Democrats, stressing community services; and David Bettney of the Social Democratic Party.[64]| Candidate | Party | First-Preference Votes | First-Preference % | Second-Preference Votes Added | Final Votes | Final % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Coppard | Labour | 112,517 | 43.1 | 30,959 | 143,476 | 71.4 |
| Clive Watkinson | Conservative | 43,129 | 16.5 | 14,218 | 57,347 | 28.6 |
| Simon Biltcliffe | Yorkshire Party | 34,857 | 13.4 | - | - | - |
| Bex Whyman | Green | 32,322 | 12.4 | - | - | - |
| Joe Otten | Liberal Democrats | 28,093 | 10.8 | - | - | - |
| David Bettney | Social Democratic Party | 10,177 | 3.9 | - | - | - |
2024 Election and Re-Election of Oliver Coppard
The 2024 South Yorkshire mayoral election was held on 2 May 2024, ahead of its original schedule in 2026, to enable the devolution of police and crime commissioner (PCC) functions to the mayor effective from that month. Incumbent mayor Oliver Coppard, representing Labour and the Co-operative Party, sought re-election following his 2022 victory. The election used the first-past-the-post system across the combined authority's area of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, with expanded powers including oversight of policing alongside existing responsibilities for transport, economic development, and housing.[3][69] Coppard secured re-election with 138,611 votes, equivalent to 50.9% of the total, defeating four challengers in a fragmented field. His strongest performance was in Sheffield at 53% of votes, while support dipped to 47% in Rotherham. The Conservative candidate, Nick Allen, received 44,945 votes (16.5%), followed by Green Party's Douglas Johnson with 37,142 votes (13.6%), Liberal Democrats' Hannah Kitching with 31,002 votes (11.4%), and Social Democratic Party's David Bettney with 20,835 votes (7.6%).[69][3]| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Coppard | Labour and Co-operative | 138,611 | 50.9% |
| Nick Allen | Conservative | 44,945 | 16.5% |
| Douglas Johnson | Green | 37,142 | 13.6% |
| Hannah Kitching | Liberal Democrats | 31,002 | 11.4% |
| David Bettney | Social Democratic Party | 20,835 | 7.6% |