'The way South Yorkshire operates as a region is diabolical' - Chief executive of Sheffield Chamber hits out over devolution

Richard Wright, who made the stinging criticism at a council meeting, said the region had missed out on three or four inward investment opportunities and was ‘a million miles’ from a One Yorkshire devolution.

“The way we operate as a region is diabolical and the track record over the last few years has been absolutely disgusting around things like devolution,” he said.

“We have an inability to work together and see the bigger picture and see the prize out there. A lot of our parochial attitudes have stopped things that really should have happened.

“I look at Sheffield City Region and I’m under no illusions. If we can’t work at a regional level how on earth can we work together as Yorkshire?

“We are a million miles from it, don’t have the sophistication to do it and it’s a massive distraction.

“I speak as somebody from Scarborough, my dad is from Hull, my son is in Doncaster, I live in Rotherham and I represent Sheffield Chamber so I really am spread around.

“I don’t say that for any other reason than practically, on the ground, we are a million miles from One Yorkshire.”

Mr Wright was speaking at a scrutiny meeting about whether the council should keep a Cabinet or switch to a committee system.

He said while there had been some good partnership working, there had also been missed opportunities.

“We have achieved some good things as partners, such as flood defences, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine and the university technical colleges.

“I can point to some great examples of how we have done well but there’s always some things you miss.

“We’ve missed some good inward investment opportunities that would have added to the city, created employment and wealth and paid more business rates which is increasingly important to the council because your income will come from keeping a higher proportion of those business rates so you have a vested interest in trying to deliver more.”