Devolution gets a boost, local tip might open, disappointment over sanctuary scheme withdrawal ...

Local institutions to get more “firepower” as part of a renewed drive to devolve more powers away from the centre

The Labour government under prime minister Andy Burnham have announced that plans are underway to fundamentally rewire “the way the country works” by devolving more powers to local leaders.

In a cabinet statement titled “rewiring the state”, the new administration revealed a “new model of government” that will aspire to deliver a “radical shift in where powers and resources lie”.

The ambition will see powers that have long been centralised being devolved to elected mayors and local authorities across England.

“We know that success will rest on local institutions having the firepower and backing to use their powers effectively, and there will be different levels of readiness for change of this scale across our regions,” the statement said.

The government outlined three key features of their plan. One, local leaders will receive more support to drive growth and improve public services – with the powers, currently lacking, to go with it.

Two, local government will get more control over local tax revenue  – principally by replacing grants from central government “with a share of local tax income” (for every mayor that is and only beginning in 2028).

Three, more structural change in local government will occur, with every area of England operating under a strategic authority, although the need for a mayor overseeing it won’t be mandatory.

Responding to the cabinet statement, the Institute for Government’s chief economist, Tom Pope, welcomed the sense of priority that the PM has placed on devolution so early into his premiership.

“Today’s announcement represents agreement across the most senior ministers in government that it will devolve according to these principles,” he wrote. “That includes some specific commitments but also a deeper change: the question should be ‘why can this not be devolved’ rather than ‘why should it be devolved’.

“This matters. Governments’ devolving zeal often wane as they get used to holding power at the centre. New Labour introduced Scottish, Welsh and London devolution in their first term but did little more … Recent attempts to devolve more powers have also been partially stymied by the reluctance of some departments to give up control of powers in their area.”

Commenting specifically on the news that mayors will get a piece of the income tax pie for the first time, Tracy Brabin, the mayor of West Yorkshire, described it as “real devolution”.

“Giving extra powers and a proportion of income tax to regions means people will be able to see and feel the real benefit of their hard work and where that money is going,” she added.

“This will enable us to deliver on our ambitious plans including vital improvements to public transport, providing better skills and employment support so people can fulfil their potential, and building the homes that people need.”

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the News Media Association was quoted by the Guardian said that he was “interested that the government’s announcements about greater devolution have not mentioned press or media policy”, adding:

"We believe that is a mistake because the two should not be siloed and, ultimately, the success of devolution is dependent on scrutiny.”

Earlier this month the government announced that local news organisations could now bid for a slice of a £12 million pot of money as part of its Local Media Action Plan, which was revealed in the spring.

“It is a commitment to the future of local journalism in the UK and while it does not solve every problem, it will set us on a path to sustain a thriving local media that shines a light on the issues that matter most to people, enriching our national conversation, strengthening communities and social cohesion, rebuilding social trust, and supporting local growth,” Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said in the ministerial foreword.

Deputy leader of Bradford Council appears to suggest closed waste recycling centre could reopen

The deputy leader of Bradford Council has appeared to suggest that the Sugden End Household Waste Recycling Centre could reopen.

In a video which opens with him standing in front of the tip’s closed gates, hands on his waist – with a sigh and a shake of the head before he turns to the camera – Andrew Judson said that he and his colleagues had been listening to everyone that the closure of the tip has had an impact on.

And all that listening has had the following effect – in September the executive committee will be discussing the matter.

“This will allow other parties and people to ask questions regarding feasibility, [about whether] we’ve costed it to make sure that we can afford to operate a site and then we will move forward from there,” the executive member for economy, regeneration and planning went on to say.

“As a result of that decision, it will then move forward to what we call scrutiny. Scrutiny may just say we want to check this and it will delay it a little bit longer. It is called due process. It is democratic process that we have to follow.

“These questions are asked to prove that we can actually go forward and operate the site. Now this takes time. It's just as frustrating for us as it is frustrating for you, but it does take time.”

Last week, Robbie Moore, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, along with Rebecca Poulson, the leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council and her fellow Worth Valley councillor, Paul Golding, also appeared outside the tip, calling for it to be reopened.

“Bradford Council must take the Sugden End tip off their asset disposal register and reopen the site as a household waste and recycling centre as soon as possible,” the Conservative MP said.

“I can’t quite believe the new leadership at Bradford Council have been in place for nearly three months and they haven’t removed the Sugden End site off the asset disposal register yet.”

Moore also called on the council to open a new tip in Ilkley, as the former site of the waste recycling centre has been sold. You can read more about that story here.

Communities in Motion programme to get older people in Bradford moving

Older people across the district of Bradford are set to benefit from a new programme called Communities in Motion that aims to get them to live healthier and more active lives.

Thanks to funding from the London Marathon Foundation, Age UK Bradford District is able to offer a wide range of accessible physical activities for people aged 65 and over over the next two years.

Older people will be able to sign up to walking groups, dance sessions, daytime discos, pilates experiences and more – all designed to help build strength, improve balance and boost confidence.

"We know that becoming more active doesn't have to mean joining a gym or running marathons,” said Mark Rounding, chief executive of Age UK Bradford District. 

“Communities in Motion is about creating friendly, welcoming opportunities where older people can move more, meet others and enjoy themselves in a supportive environment.

“This is one of the biggest physical activity programmes we've delivered and we're incredibly excited to see it grow across the district over the coming months."

Recently, Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said that she welcomed news that the Labour government under the new prime minister Andy Burnham had committed to reforming social care.

“We won’t all necessarily have to pay more as individuals for a better system of social care but it’s likely we’ll have to pay differently,” she went on to say. “At present older people often face big bills when they are in crisis – for example after a fall.

“It would be much better if we followed the example of many other developed nations and paid into a big pot in advance or after our deaths so when we need care it’s there for us, however much or little money we actually have.”

Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary “disappointed” in council’s decision to pull out of scheme

The decision by the Reform UK-led Calderdale Council to withdraw from the Local Authority of Sanctuary scheme has been met with disappointment by a local charity.

Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary said that the decision did not define Calderdale “nor change who we are or what we stand for”.

It added that the idea of a sanctuary was more than just a title or a badge and that it represented a “shared commitment and a promise”.

“Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary is proud to be part of the City of Sanctuary UK movement,” it said. As an independent charity, we will continue to work constructively with Calderdale Council and alongside our many partners across the borough.

We would like to thank everyone who contacted their local councillors to vote against the motion, and the councillors who spoke up and voted against it at the meeting.”

Calderdale Council had adopted the Local Authority of Sanctuary pledge in 2023 when it was run by a Labour administration. It lost control of the council in May, with Reform UK ending up as the biggest party on the council. The Conservatives were wiped out.

"Withdrawal for what is in effect prioritised support for a minority of people superseding our Calderdale residents shows that we are actually committed to fairness in the borough and its residents,” councillor Paul Hawkaluk of Reform UK was quoted by Yorkshire Live as saying.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway funding released

Bradford Council has released the latest batch of funding totalling £200,000 for the upgrade of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

The cash comes on the back of £50,000 assigned to the project at the start of the year. A total of £5 million has been earmarked for the programme of improvements.

Matt Stroh, chairman of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, said that represented a “significant milestone” for the railway.

"The initial feasibility work has given us a strong foundation,” he continued. “We are now able to move into advanced planning, developing detailed proposals that will transform the railway while protecting its unique heritage.

He added that the investment wasn’t just about preserving the historic railway, explaining that it will enable them to create a sustainable visitor attraction that will drive economic growth, support local businesses, and create employment opportunities.

Last year, Keighley station picked up two awards at the National Railway Heritage Awards, which recognised restoration work that had been done to preserve its heritage while updating its facilities.

“We’ve maintained the station’s 19th-century heritage while making sure it’s equipped to serve passengers for decades to come, and to be recognised by the judges in this way is excellent for everyone involved,” commented Jonny Ham, Network Rail lead portfolio manager, in December 2025.

Homelessness in Bradford helped into accommodation 

The Homeless Outreach Partnership, dubbed a 12-strong multi-agency team, has helped 99 homeless people in Bradford go from spending nights on the streets to spending nights in accommodation.

News of this comes on the back of the Bradford Council-commissioned partnership picking up gold at the Local Government Chronicle Awards in the “housing category”.

Jayne Morgan, the executive member for healthy people at Bradford Council, said that the figures for the first half of the year demonstrated the “hard work which is happening day in day out on the streets”.

“They work collaboratively with partners and are often the first point of contact for rough sleepers, as they are out on the streets across the district every single day,” she went on to say.

“Giving people the support to access services which can help them is crucial to their long-term success. We’re proud of the Council’s work, which makes such a positive difference to these people’s lives.”

Andy Burnham, who recently became prime minister – the fourth in five years, the seventh since Brexit – pledged to “end long-term rough sleeping across the UK” on his first day in the job.

For too long, we’ve been told that ending rough sleeping will take decades or even that it’s impossible,” he said last week. “I’m not having that. This is something a government can fix if it chooses to. Today, I’m choosing to.”

Also in The Journal: we went on a journey to discover more about councillor Stephen Place, Bradford Council’s new leader:

For a while, Stephen Place was content with sharing his two cents on social media. He had no qualms about what he posted. This was who he was, what he thought and how he saw the world. Not that it mattered (basic civility notwithstanding). He wasn’t worth paying attention to. He didn’t have anything interesting to say. He was just another unremarkable and predictable voice on the online right drowned out by the feverish clamour of a “virtually lawless public square” overflowing with people clamouring to be heard and seen in an AI-powered “golden age of stupidity”.

Here's what we found out.

Read all about it