YORKSHIRE council leaders are in London today for talks over a devolution deal that could see powers over things like transport, housing, training and skills, and EU funding handed to the area.

Government ministers have called a meeting to try to resolve the disagreements between two competing devolution bids for Yorkshire.

York's own council leader Chris Steward and the city council's chief executive Steve Stewart will be in the talks with Communities and Local Government minister Greg Clark and treasury minister Lord O'Neill, along with leaders from North Yorkshire County Council, the East Riding, Hull, and Scarborough and Harrogate district councils.

Five council leaders from West Yorkshire - who are pushing for a rival "Leeds City Region" deal - will also be there, along with Bradford's chief executive Kersten England who was until August at the helm of York council.

>>> BACKGROUND: Devolution deadline day brings rival bids for Yorkshire powers

North Yorkshire leader Cllr Carl Les said he would be fighting for a "Greater Yorkshire" deal which could bring a directly elected mayor for North, East and West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire leaders have so far rejected that deal  instead favouring a deal for Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale with the option for York, and parts of North Yorkshire to join.

Council leaders alone can settle Yorkshire devolution row

Last week a regional MP said it was up to council leaders to break the stalemate over Yorkshire devolution.

Conservative Andrew Jones, junior transport minister responsible for the Northern powerhouse, said yesterday that it was up to council leaders in the county to come up with a workable devolution proposal that has wide support.

York Press: Andrew Jones MP

Earlier in the week, Northern powerhouse minister James Wharton had told Yorkshire MPs that a deal over powers and funding for Yorkshire was not likely before the Autumn Statement in November because of the “challenges” in talks at the moment.

On Friday Mr Jones, himself the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, called for patience but appeared to back the Greater Yorkshire bid saying “the more ambitious the better” for both the geography of the bids, and the money and power to be devolved.  The MP said: “They have got to sort it out, and they can do that by working together and talking.”

He added: “ I don’t think we should be frustrated by it. We are asking people to change their culture and the way they are working. That will require sometimes a bit of work, and that’s reasonable.” I would encourage people to work together – we can see what benefits it has brought Manchester and we should see what benefits it can bring to Yorkshire as well.”