Latest news with #CombinedAuthority
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans to axe six West Yorkshire school bus routes moves ahead
Plans to axe six school bus routes in West Yorkshire have been confirmed, prompting criticism from councillors. West Yorkshire Combined Authority said last week it was considering cutting three buses in Bradford, one in Calderdale and two in Leeds from September each case, the authority said there were either alternate public transport services available, or that most children would be able to walk or cycle to a meeting on Thursday, members of the Combined Authority voted to approve the cuts but said they would "engage with affected schools to plan for proposed changes to services". The proposals came after a review of the school routes the authority subsidises, with West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin stating: "As we look to improve transport across West Yorkshire, we want to ensure services are equitable for all."Leeds Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton said: "The primary driver behind this is presented as it being an issue of equity – that some parts are getting more than others."I believe instead of negotiating down, we should try to life everyone up to an equal benefit."According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Brabin said the planned franchised bus service – the Weaver Network - would improve buses across the board when it is introduced in 2027 and "connect young people to places they have never been connected to before". The services facing the axe include: B50 Eldwick to Beckfoot SchoolB99 Bradford city centre to Appleton AcademyS64 Baildon to Titus Salt School or S66 Baildon Primary to Titus Salt SchoolC6 Crossley Heath GrammarS62 Cockburn SchoolSM25 Ilkley to St Mary's MenstonThe WYCA has previously said it currently has arrangements in place for 328 buses carrying up to 20,000 pupils per day at a cost of £18.99m a year, of which 45% is funded by the combined remaining costs are funded by income from fares, council's across West Yorkshire and schools. 'Attacking choice' Tim Taylor, director of transport services, said Leeds and Bradford currently received higher subsidies for school buses than areas like Lamb, a Conservative councillor representing Wetherby, described the cuts as "an attack on choice".Pointing out that the authority had said some families would be able to walk and cycle to school if the routes were cut, he said: "If walking and cycling was the best option for children they'd already be doing it."It is not for this authority to make that decision for them."Ms Brabin acknowledged the changes could prove "stressful" but said the WYCA would work with schools between now and September 2026 to mitigate the changes. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Allowance of £72k agreed for Hull's new mayor
The Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, will be paid £72k a year for his annual allowance was agreed by members of the combined authority's executive board at a meeting on panel who recommended the allowance said that the calculation was reached by comparing the role against similar positions across the Campbell, was elected as the region's first mayor on 1 May. Combined authorities are led by an elected mayor. As head of the combined authority, Campbell is responsible for housing, public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and is no set salary for mayors across England. The Institute for Government states that in 2022/23 the average salary was £92,063. In 2022/23, the mayor of Greater London had the highest salary at £154,963 a year, and the Tees Valley and North of Tyne mayors had the lowest salaries at £65,000 a to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the report stated that the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) was the "best comparable area to use as a benchmark." The document said the TVCA's area had a similar population to Hull and East Yorkshire and the two areas received similar devolution document also stated that the panel thought it was important to set the allowance "above the local authority leader allowances and below member of parliament allowances". MP's are paid £93,904 a report said the panel used the police and crime commissioner's (PCC) allowance as a benchmark. According to the government's website, the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Evison, is paid £78,400 a panel said it took into account the PCC covered a larger area and their remit was significantly different from the remit of the combined authority. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plan to protect habitats under 'intense pressure'
A plan to encourage and rebuild wildlife habitats in a nature-depleted county under "intense pressure" is set to be put to the public. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which brings together the mayor and local councils, is set to approve a draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy at its meeting on Wednesday. There will be a consultation in July before it becomes one of 48 similar documents published across England setting out priorities and actions for that region. According to the draft strategy, Cambridgeshire has one of the lowest proportions of land designated for nature in the UK, at 3.3%, and the second-lowest woodland cover at 4.8%. But it said Cambridgeshire was home to many "internationally important" nature sites, with the Fens supporting populations of European eel and spined loach. It pointed to invasive species in the county, such as muntjac deer and American mink, and tree diseases that have impacted the Cambridgeshire landscape by killing elm and ash trees. The county's population had increased by 20% since 2000, the strategy said, putting "intense pressure" on local habitats such as Wicken Fen. The report said: "The rapidly growing population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough does not have national parks, national landscapes or large areas of open access downland, forest, moorland or coast on its doorsteps." Cambridgeshire was also said to have lost 88% of its marsh habitat, 84% of its semi-natural grassland but gained 85% of its woodland between 1930 and 2018. Part two of the draft plan talked about protecting Cambridgeshire's chalk streams and historic orchards, and for the county's grasslands, woodlands and wetland habitats to be "cherished and managed". The strategy discussed differences anyone can make, such as gardeners leaving some of their lawn unmown for part of the year, or for farmers to crop less land at the edges of fields. Each of the 48 strategies will map out areas important for biodiversity, and those with the potential to be important, and produce a local habitat map. If approved, an eight-week public consultation on the draft strategy will begin on 18 July. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. Station project plants trees at expanded reserve Rare birds appear on restored wetland 'in hours' Nature reserve sees first crane chick take flight Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
BBC News
16-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire plan to restore under-pressure natural habitats
A plan to encourage and rebuild wildlife habitats in a nature-depleted county under "intense pressure" is set to be put to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which brings together the mayor and local councils, is set to approve a draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy at its meeting on will be a consultation in July before it becomes one of 48 similar documents published across England setting out priorities and actions for that to the draft strategy, Cambridgeshire has one of the lowest proportions of land designated for nature in the UK, at 3.3%, and the second-lowest woodland cover at 4.8%. But it said Cambridgeshire was home to many "internationally important" nature sites, with the Fens supporting populations of European eel and spined pointed to invasive species in the county, such as muntjac deer and American mink, and tree diseases that have impacted the Cambridgeshire landscape by killing elm and ash county's population had increased by 20% since 2000, the strategy said, putting "intense pressure" on local habitats such as Wicken report said: "The rapidly growing population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough does not have national parks, national landscapes or large areas of open access downland, forest, moorland or coast on its doorsteps."Cambridgeshire was also said to have lost 88% of its marsh habitat, 84% of its semi-natural grassland but gained 85% of its woodland between 1930 and 2018. Part two of the draft plan talked about protecting Cambridgeshire's chalk streams and historic orchards, and for the county's grasslands, woodlands and wetland habitats to be "cherished and managed".The strategy discussed differences anyone can make, such as gardeners leaving some of their lawn unmown for part of the year, or for farmers to crop less land at the edges of of the 48 strategies will map out areas important for biodiversity, and those with the potential to be important, and produce a local habitat approved, an eight-week public consultation on the draft strategy will begin on 18 July. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Wakefield's roads to get £2.4m pothole repair boost
An extra £2.4m of investment to improve Wakefield's roads and pavements is set to be approved by the district's cash, which will come from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is likely to be formally accepted at a meeting next Tuesday.A council report said the money would go towards improvements at Wrenthorpe Bypass in Carr Gate; Common Lane in Upton; Bacon Avenue in Normanton; Barnsley Road in South Elmsall; Pope Street in Whitwood; St Pauls Drive , in Alverthorpe; Standbridge Lane in Kettlethorpe and Thornes Moor Road in report said it was "essential" that road users were kept "safe". Matthew Morley, the council's cabinet member for highways and planning, said: "We are investing in our roads and footpaths every day."Getting this extra funding will really help us to keep people moving right across our district."Wakefield Council is responsible for maintaining 903 miles (1,454 km) of roads, 1,208 miles (1,944 km) of footways, and 93 miles (150 km) of cycle lanes and year, the authority carried out repairs to over 3,100 potholes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
