With voters due to go to the polls on May 1, we decided it was high time to answer ten key questions about the new elected Mayor for Hull and East Yorkshire. Our novel plebiscite correspondent Angus Young is at the helm.
Q: Why are we getting a Mayor?
A: The area’s two local councils – Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council – agreed a devolution deal with the previous government which involved the creation of a combined authority led by a directly-elected mayor. After last year’s General Election, the new Labour government confirmed the deal would go-ahead.
Q: Haven’t we already got a Mayor?
A: Yes, Hull has a Lord Mayor who also holds the title of Admiral of the Humber. The Lord Mayor performs a largely ceremonial role and is elected by councillors whereas the new elected Mayor will be political and elected by the public.
Q: What will be the responsibilities of the new Mayor and the combined authority?
A: Expect to hear the word ‘strategic’ a lot in the coming weeks. The Mayor will have new powers covering transport, housing, skills, adult education and economic development.
Q: What happens to the two existing councils?
A: Not a lot. They will both continue to deliver day-to-day services, from bin collections to fixing potholes. The number of councillors at each authority will remain unchanged.
Q: What sort of devolved funding are we talking about?
A: There’s an annual £13.3m allocation from the government which is meant to continue for the next 30 years. Another £2m is being provided over three years to cover set-up costs. There’s also £20m being made available to support specific capital programmes, including transport, flooding and coastal erosion projects.
Q: Who will sit on the combined authority?
A: As well as the Mayor, two councillors from each council will be nominated to serve on the authority. One of those nominated will be appointed as Deputy Mayor. Initially, there will also be four non-voting members, including three representatives from the Hull and East Yorkshire Business and Skills Boards and the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison.
Q: Will the Mayor act alone?
A: He or she will be expected to lead the authority and work jointly with a new Mayor being elected at the same time in Greater Lincolnshire. There is also likely to be partnership working with local council and business leaders. The governance arrangements also allow the Mayor to appoint a political advisor.
Q: How long is the new Mayor’s term of office?
A: He or she will be in charge for four years before the next mayoral election.
Q: Does a combined authority mean extra council tax charges?
A: The Mayor will have the necessary powers to introduce a council tax precept in much the same way as the Police and Crime Commissioner does now. However, it’s not a vote-winning policy so don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.
Q: Who’s in the running?
A: The candidates currently confirmed include Mike Ross (Liberal Democrat), Anne Handley (Conservative), Margaret Pinder (Labour), Kerry Harrison (Green), Rowan Halstead (Yorkshire Party) and Luke Campbell (Reform UK).