What is the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority and Why Does it Matter?

Big changes are happening in Hull and East Yorkshire, and it's all about bringing more control and investment to the area. The newly formed Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) just held its first meeting on Wednesday, 5 March, at the ergo business centre near the Humber Bridge. And there’s a lot of money and power on the line.

What’s the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority all about?

The HEYCA is a brand-new organisation created after Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council struck a devolution deal with the Government. Basically, it means local decision-makers will have more power to decide how money is spent on things like transport, coastal defences, and economic growth.

The big draw? A whopping £400 million investment fund that’s now in the hands of the local area rather than Westminster. Plus, the authority will soon have an elected mayor, with the Combined Authority Mayoral election scheduled for Thursday, 1 May.

What’s being funded?

The board agreed on some pretty exciting investments:

• £15 million to boost transport, flood protection, and coastal erosion prevention.
• A coastal regeneration project in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
• A brownfield employment programme in Hull (basically turning old, unused sites into something useful).
• £1 million towards the Howden link road scheme, helping support new housing developments.
• Future funding possibilities to support Offshore Wind projects and tackle climate change effects on the coast.

Who’s making the decisions?

The Executive Board running HEYCA includes:

• From Hull City Council: Councillor Mike Ross (Leader) and Councillor Jackie Dad (Deputy Leader).
• From East Riding of Yorkshire Council: Councillor Anne Handley (Leader) and Councillor David Tucker (Deputy Leader).
• Plus, a few non-voting members from the Hull and East Yorkshire Business and Skills Boards.
• And, interestingly, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison has been appointed as a non-constituent member.

Why does this matter to you?

Well, it’s all about more local control. With the HEYCA in charge, the region gets to shape its own future without waiting on decisions from London. Things like transport improvements and climate initiatives can be planned and delivered by people who actually live and work in the area.

Plus, this investment will hopefully mean more jobs, better transport options, and improved protection against flooding and erosion—things that really matter to the community.

What’s next?

The next big step is the Combined Authority Mayoral election on Thursday, 1 May. After that, things will start moving faster, especially with all this new money ready to be put to work.

According to Councillor Jackie Dad, getting to this stage took a lot of effort, but it's all about tapping into the talent and drive of local people. And Councillor David Tucker added that the goal is to “unlock investment and opportunities” for the region.

The best part? The existing councils aren’t going anywhere. They’ll keep running services like bin collections and everything else you’re used to. The HEYCA just adds a layer of decision-making focused on the bigger picture.

Want to know more? Check out their website at Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this all plays out!