A DEVOLUTION plan for South Yorkshire appeared to collapse today, raising questions over the future for an alternative “One Yorkshire” deal.

Leaders of Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley councils could not reach an agreement about the way forward.

The Doncaster and Barnsley leaders have been involved in talks with North and West Yorkshire councils - including York - in a “coalition of the willing” on a wider Yorkshire deal.

In a brief statement, Sheffield City Region said: “At a meeting of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Combined Authority this morning, the leaders of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield councils could not reach agreement on the recommendation put before the meeting, which was to initiate public consultation on mayoral powers relating to devolution.

“However, as things stand, a mayoral election is still set to go ahead in May 2018, to elect a mayor for the SCR Combined Authority.

“This mayor will chair the combined authority, have equivalent voting rights to existing local authorities at its meetings, and also have some powers relating to bus franchising.”

But Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “Clearly the Government’s keen to press ahead with what’s here already, and I fully respect ministers for reiterating that, but equally I would hope they would accept that there is a coalition of the willing.

“There are real prospects for Yorkshire coming together as a powerful economic and political unit. And I hope they’ll change their minds.”

The wider Yorkshire deal has been the subject of talks which took place in York over the summer.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid stepped in last week in support of the South Yorkshire deal.