A new group is pushing for York and North Yorkshire to keep more of the region’s wealth in its local businesses and communities to create a fairer local economy.
A Community Wealth Building Mayoral Commission, convened by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, brought together experts from community organisations, academia, trade unions, and social enterprises.
Meeting for the first time this week, the commission were tasked with understanding how York and North Yorkshire could learn from and replicate the success of Community Wealth Building programmes, such as the Preston model, which has retained nearly £500m in local spend within Lancashire.
Much of the success in Preston has come from changing the way in which organisations including councils, larger businesses, NHS trusts and universities use their spending power, by prioritising their procurement for services through local businesses and providers, thereby building more wealth, locally.
The commission will seek to understand the opportunities for local institutions in York and North Yorkshire to mirror this practice, helping local businesses better tap into the money those organisations spend every year.
It will also investigate the impact of establishing a co-operative and worker ownership hub, creating a public bus company, setting up a regional bank and pushing the region’s pension funds to invest more of its money in projects that will benefit communities.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
This isn’t about waiting for money to come our way, it’s about taking an active role in spreading power and opportunities for people in our cities, towns and villages.
York and North Yorkshire has a strong economy but not everyone feels the benefits of that. It’s time to change that, and this work is key to our plans.
We have an opportunity to give more people a say on how their local economies work, and who they work for. The cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away, building strong local economies, and giving people the tools to be at the heart of decision making has made a real difference in places like Preston, and now it’s York and North Yorkshire’s turn to build fair, healthy and thriving communities.
The Commission, chaired by Sam Leach, Development Director at Spark CIC, will develop a practical set of recommendations to create fairer local economies. He said “I’m grateful for the opportunity to chair the Community Wealth Building Commission and to support David Skaith’s bold ambitions for York and North Yorkshire. Together, we have a real chance to transform lives and ensure wealth benefits all our communities.”
Membership is composed of the following members, with support and engagement of City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council:
- Sam Leach, Chair, Development Director, Spark CIC, and Member of York and North Yorkshire Business Board
- Jane Colthup, Chief Executive, Communtiy First Yorkshire, and Member of York and North Yorkshire Business Board
- Victoria Huges, Programme Lead (Emerging Futures), Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology, University of York
- Martin O’Neill, Professor of Political Philosophy, University of York
- Dr Owen Powell, Lecturer in Human Resources, York St John University
- Cllr Matthew Brown, Leader, Preston City Council
- Helen Flynn, Chief Executive, Nidderdale Plus Partnership
- Emma Garner, Communication Workers Union
