(Image: York and North Yorkshire Council)
A new corporate plan has been approved, setting out a three-year vision for growth, sustainability, and opportunity.
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s first corporate plan lays out priorities over the next three years, focusing on economic growth, climate action, and improved connectivity.
The plan serves as the strategic framework for how the combined authority will invest devolved funding, collaborate with partners, and measure progress.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "Having people with skin in the game, not Westminster, making the decisions about how to tackle challenges and make the most of our opportunities will make a difference for our communities.
"This Corporate Plan sets out the next step on our journey and provides a clear roadmap for how we will turn those powers into action over the next three years.
"Working with government and local partners will unlock more investment and tools, we will focus on what matters most.
"That’s backing our local businesses, making it more affordable for people to live here, improving how people move around our county, and creating safer communities for everyone."
By 2029, the Combined Authority aims for residents to see the benefits of devolution in their daily lives with better transport connections, more affordable homes, greater access to skills and good jobs, safer communities, and continued progress towards a carbon-negative future.
Six key priorities underpin the plan: accelerating and delivering inclusive economic growth: tackling climate change to deliver a sustainable future, delivering an integrated transport system that connects people to opportunity, helping communities thrive, be safe and healthy, building a high-performing organisation, and delivering best value.
It also emphasises the authority’s ambition for York and North Yorkshire to become carbon negative by 2040.
The plan highlights early signs of progress.
To date, the combined authority has supported 20,000 people with upskilling and training, allocated £2.4 million through the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund, and funded the development of 902 affordable homes via the Brownfield Housing Fund.
An additional £4 million has been invested through the Mayoral Active Travel Fund to encourage healthier travel options.
The combined authority has also backed 52,000 referrals supporting victims of crime, vulnerable individuals, offenders, and community priorities, and supported more than 3,600 businesses, including 583 people to start a business.
Since being awarded Established Mayoral Status in June, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority now has greater flexibility and opportunities to secure investment and deliver on its priorities.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The organisation will continue to work closely with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, businesses, public services, voluntary organisations and communities to ensure investment delivers the greatest possible benefit for residents and places across York and North Yorkshire."