Mayor Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire’s five council leaders have launched five new “regional missions”, aimed at boosting progress on jobs, housing, transport, climate and crime.

At a major event in Leeds this week, Mayor Brabin unvailed “The West Yorkshire Plan” – a series of long-term solutions aimed at tackling insecure work, expensive housing, unreliable public transport, the effects of climate change and crime.

These five areas – agreed in partnership with the public, private and charity sector – will be targeted for sweeping investments until 2040, as part of a wider plan to build a “brighter West Yorkshire that works for all”.

Mayor Brabin was joined on stage by West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, as well as by Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Cllr Jane Scullion, Cllr Shabir Pandor, Cllr James Lewis, and Cllr Denise Jeffery, the leaders of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils respectively.

Here, the Deputy Mayor and leaders spoke about each of the five missions in turn, which are:

• A prosperous West Yorkshire, built on an inclusive economy with well-paid jobs.
• A happy West Yorkshire, full of great places and healthy communities.
• A well-connected West Yorkshire, held together by a strong transport system.
• A sustainable West Yorkshire, rich with greener lives and communities.
• A safe West Yorkshire, free of the fear of crime so everyone can flourish.

Commenting on the plan, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said, “These five missions will form the building blocks of a stronger, happier, better-connected, greener and safer West Yorkshire. Together, they will focus minds and allow us to transform lives across the region, as we work to deliver a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.

“Long-term problems require long-term solutions, and here in West Yorkshire, we’re laser focused on the big issues that really matter to people. Whether that’s a lack of economic opportunity, unaffordable housing, unreliable public transport, the cost of energy or crime.

“Devolution is working for West Yorkshire. Over the past two years, we’ve delivered well-paid jobs, affordable homes, cheaper bus fares, greener communities and safer streets. But by working together, with a clear and serious plan for the future, we can deliver so much more.”