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DEVOLUTION REVOLUTION? ..................................................................................................... 2

GREATER MANCHESTER ............................................................................................................... 3

WEST MIDLANDS ............................................................................................................................. 8

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION .......................................................................................................... 12

WEST OF ENGLAND ...................................................................................................................... 16

CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH .......................................................................... 19

TEES VALLEY ................................................................................................................................... 24

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On 4 May, the first Combined Authority Mayors were elected across the country: Greater

Manchester, West Midlands, Liverpool City Region, West of England, Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough, and Tees Valley.

The new Combined Authority Mayors (or Metro Mayors) will chair a combined authority. A

combined authority is a legal body that enables two or more local authorities to collaborate to

improve the delivery of public services and other public functions in their area. Each combined

authority has agreed a devolution deal with the Government which sets out the powers and

responsibilities of each mayoralty.

The Mayors will be responsible for setting out a strategy to grow the local economies in their areas.

While their powers will vary, each Mayor will have access to a pot of funding and powers over

transport, housing and skills.

The new Metro Mayors will not be limited by these powers. As the elected leaders of their areas they

will act as ambassadors to attract Government funding and business investment, and will be able to

raise the profile of issues that catch their interest.

As we have seen in Greater London, the mayors will also be able to influence policy areas where

they do not have a formal role and will be able to play a role in in coordinating public services in

their area by bringing together in local councils, other government bodies, charities and private

businesses.

The new mayors will also be looking to the future and seeking to gain further powers and funding

from the Government. While it is not clear what, if any, new powers will be devolved after the

General Election several of the new Mayors have set out what further powers they would like

Government to hand over in their manifestos.

This briefing provides an overview of the powers of each of the six mayors, information about each

mayor and their policy pledges.

Profiles of the Metro Mayors are now available on DeHavilland’s PeoplePoint database. For further

information, please contact your Monitoring Consultant.

https://www.dehavilland.co.uk/NewVerticals/PeoplePoint/PPResults.aspx#searchDirectories/2308

https://www.dehavilland.co.uk/NewVerticals/PeoplePoint/PPStart.aspx

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The Greater Manchester Mayor will chair the Greater

Manchester Combined Authority, a partnership of ten

local authorities: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham,

Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and

Wigan.

The Mayor will be supported by a Cabinet consisting of

the leaders of the 10 local authorities who make up the

combined authority. Each member of the Cabinet will

have a portfolio of responsibilities. The Mayor will also be

supported by a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime,

and a Deputy Mayor for Economic Growth and Business.

Budget and Finance

The Mayor will be required to set a budget for

mayoral functions. The Combined Authority can

amend the budget if supported by two thirds of members.

The main source of the Mayor’s funding will come from a ‘Single Pot’ of funding from the

Government that can be spent on different projects to support the local economy. The Single

Pot is made up of several different budgets including an investment fund grant worth £30m

each year (£900m over 30 years).

The Mayor and Combined authority will be able to add a precept to Council Tax bills.

They will also pilot 100% business rates retention.

Transport

Local Transport Plan – The Mayor will have responsibility for setting a Local Transport Plan

for the area. This Plan will need the agreement of 7 out of 10 members of the Combined

Authority.

As part of the Single Pot the Mayor will control a consolidated transport budget.

Bus Franchising - The Mayor will be able to introduce bus franchising in the Combined

Authority area.

Roads - The Combined Authority can agree to work with local councils in the area and

Highways England on building and maintaining roads.

Housing and Planning

Strategic Planning - The Mayor will be responsible for preparing a Spatial Development

Strategy for the area. This plan will need the approval of all members of the Combined

Authority.

Housing Investment Fund - The Mayor and Combined Authority have been given a £300m

loan from the Government to lend to developers to support housing development.

Compulsory Purchase – The Mayor and Combined Authority will have compulsory

purchase powers.

Local authorities comprising the Greater

Manchester Combined Authority, with council

control by party as of May 2017.

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Mayoral Development Corporations – The Mayor will be able to propose that particular

areas should be included in a Mayoral Development Corporation. The Mayor will need the

agreement of the relevant local council and the agreement of two thirds of combined

authority members.

Education, Skills and Employment

Apprenticeship Grant for Employers - The Mayor and combined authority will have control

of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers.

Adult education budget – The Combined authority will take responsibility for the Adult

Education Budget in their area from September 2018.

Work and Health Programme - The Combined Authority will receive funding to design and

agree the contract for the Work and Health Programme in Greater Manchester.

Life Chances Fund - The Combined Authority will be able to bring together a number of

different budgets to support the life chances of troubled individuals

Health and Social Care

Power and funding for health and social care in Greater Manchester has not been given

directly to the Mayor or Combined Authority. Instead, control of £6bn of health and social

care spending spent in Greater Manchester will be ceded to the Greater Manchester Health

and Social Care Partnership.

The Partnership includes representatives from the Combined Authority, local councils, NHS

England and healthcare providers. As a member of the partnership through the Combined

Authority, the Mayor will have a say in the running of health and social care in Greater

Manchester.

Policing, Crime and Emergency Services

The Mayor will take over the main powers and responsibilities of the

local Police and Crime Commissioner. They will set and approve an

annual Police and Crime Plan, set the Council Tax precept to fund

policing, and make decisions relating to the appointment of Chief

Constables.

The Mayor will also have responsibility for fire and rescue services.

The Mayor will set out a plan and budget and will be able appoint the Chief Fire Officer and

senior management team.

Greater Manchester’s Mayor will also have a role in the local criminal justice, including: a

greater role in the commissioning of offender management services and greater influence

over youth justice.

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Labour’s Andy Burnham set out his policies in Our

Manifesto for Greater Manchester. His pledges can be

summarised as follows.

Democracy & Governance

Mr Burnham has committed to a gender-balanced

Combined Authority, pledged to develop new

mechanisms to hold the Mayor to account and has

called for the Government to establish a Brexit

Committee of the Nations and Regions which

would include Metro Mayors.

Transport

Pledged to publish a plan to tackle congestion and

introduce a Clean Air Action Plan for Greater

Manchester.

He will expand the Metrolink tram network and

work with Rail North and train operators to

improve rail services. He also called on the

Government to bring forward plans for Northern

Powerhouse Rail and HS2 to be built as a single

integrated scheme

He will use bus franchising powers to make

services more affordable, more reliable and more

accessible to disabled people and families with

pushchairs”

Pledged to give all 16-18 year olds in Greater

Manchester a free bus pass.

He will appoint an Active Travel Commissioner

for Greater Manchester.


He will “require a radical re-write of the Greater

Manchester Spatial Framework to produce a plan

which provides solutions to the housing crisis,

manages traffic congestion, raises our ambitions for

jobs and maximises the “liveability” of Great

Manchester.”

Mr Burnahm will seek to renegotiate the terms of

the Greater Manchester Housing Fund so it can be

used to help local councils and housing

associations build affordable homes.

Labour’s Andy Burnham was elected

Greater Manchester Mayor with 359,352

first preference votes (63.4%), easily

beating second placed Conservative

candidate Sean Anstee, who received

128,752 votes (22.7%).

Arguably the highest-profile politician

among the new mayors, Mr Burnham has

already had a long political career. He

began his career as a Parliamentary

Researcher, and later worked as a Special

Adviser, before being elected to

Parliament in 2001. Since then he has

served in a number of Government posts

including Education Secretary, Chief

Secretary to the Treasury, Culture

Secretary and Health Secretary.

Following the 2010 General Election he

campaigned unsuccessfully to be Labour

Leader. He then served as Shadow

Education Secretary briefly before serving

as Shadow Health Secretary. Following

the 2015 General Election he campaigned

unsuccessfully again to be Labour Leader.

Following Jeremy Corbyn’s victory, he

served as Shadow Home Secretary.

Mr Burnham remained neutral during

the 2016 Labour Leadership contest, and

campaigned for a remain vote in the 2016

Referendum.

In August 2016 he secured the Labour

nomination for the Greater Manchester

Mayoral election, defeating opponents

Ivan Lewis MP and interim Greater

Manchester Mayor Tony Lloyd.

Greater Manchester Mayor

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/andy4mayor/pages/68/attachments/original/1489493923/Andy_Burham_Manifesto_A4_12pp_copy.pdf?1489493923

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/andy4mayor/pages/68/attachments/original/1489493923/Andy_Burham_Manifesto_A4_12pp_copy.pdf?1489493923

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He pledged to establish a new Homelessness Action Network and has

set a goal ending rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020.

Pledged to work with housing providers to establish a new Greater

Manchester-wide Rent-to-Own scheme.

He will introduce a voluntary registration scheme for private landlords

in Greater Manchester.

Pledged that new homes that are built will meet the Lifetime Homes

Standard.

Business

Mr Burnham will establish a Mayor’s Business Advisory Panel.

Pledged to make the Mayor’s office a Living Wage Employer.

He will introduce a Greater Manchester Employer’s Charter setting out the basic standards

and actions expected of good businesses.

He will establish a Fairness Commission to develop more detailed plans to tackle

inequalities across our city region.

Pledged to make Greater Manchester “a world-leading Digital City-Region” and to hold a

Mayor’s Digital and Tech Summit within the first year of the election.

Education, Employment and Skills

Mr Burnham pledges to establish a Greater Manchester “Curriculum for Life”.

He will call for the introduction of a Greater Manchester Schools Commissioner and for the

Mayor to have stronger influence over all aspects of education policy from 0-19.

He will develop a new 14+ strategy for skills in Greater Manchester, including adult

learning,

Pledges to deliver a “revolution in technical education”. Central to this will be the creation of

a UCAS-style application system for apprenticeships.

Mr Burnham will call for the Apprenticeship Levy to be placed under the direction of the

Mayor and allows for it to be developed into a Skills Levy

He will also call for much greater devolution of the Department for Work and Pensions

budget.


Mr Burnham pledged to introduce “the country’s first fully-integrated National Health and

Care Service” and to “demand a fair funding deal for Greater Manchester’s NHS and social

care.”

Pledged to make mental health a priority.

Will look at retaining an NHS Bursary and introducing a new system of support for anyone

who graduates from a Greater Manchester university in a clinical course and commits to

working in Greater Manchester NHS.

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Mr Burnham has pledged to protect the police force from cuts, recruit more police officers,

protect neighbourhood policing and prioritise staff presence on public transport in the

evenings.

Energy and Environment

He will introduce a Clean Air Action Plan for Greater Manchester.

Through the Greater Manchester Minerals Policy, the Mayor will propose a presumption of a

ban on fracking across our city-region.

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The West Midlands Mayor will chair the West Midlands

Combined Authority. There are seven local councils

which are constituent (or full) members of the Combined

Authority: Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell,

Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

There are also a number of other local councils who are

non-constituent (or associate) members of the Combined

Authority. The West Midlands Mayor only represents

residents who live in the area covered by constituent

councils and their powers only apply in this area.


the leaders of the 10 local authorities who make up the

combined authority. Each member of the Cabinet will

have a portfolio of responsibilities.

Budget and Finance

The Mayor will be required to set a budget for mayoral functions. The Combined Authority

can amend the budget if supported by two thirds of members.


Government that can be spent on different projects to support the local economy. The ‘Single

Pot’ is made up of several different budgets including an investment fund grant worth

£36.5m per year (worth £1.095bn over 30 years).



Transport


for the area. This Plan will need the agreement of two thirds of members of the Combined

Authority.


Bus Franchising - The Mayor will be able to introduce bus franchising in the combined

authority area.

Key Route Network - The Mayor and combined authority will be able to set up a ‘Key Route

Network’ of the most important local roads.



purchase powers.



Local authorities comprising the West Midlands

Combined Authority, with council control by party

as of May 2017.

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agreement of the relevant local council and the

agreement of two thirds of combined authority

members.


Adult education budget – The Combined authority

will take responsibility for the Adult Education

Budget in their area from September 2018.

Work and Health Programme - The Government

have agreed to co-design the Work and Health

Programme with the Combined Authority. The

programme will provide specialist help for job

seekers who have health conditions and disabilities

and the long term unemployed.

Conservative Andy Street set out his policies in Andy

Street’s Renewal Plan for the West Midlands. He also

published Andy Street’s Digital Plan for the West Midlands.

Please see below a summary of his pledges.


Mr Street has pledged to publish a report card on

how the West Midlands is doing every three

months and hold ‘Ask Andy’ public meetings

every three months.

He will launch a Finance Commission, will

explore potential future financing initiatives and

will agree second and third devolution deals with

the Government.

Transport

To tackle congestion he has pledged to create a

“hit-list” of traffic black spots to fix, make sure

road works are co-ordinated, explore a scheme to

make the M6 Toll free during serious incidents on

the M6 but he ruled out introducing a congestion

charge.

He pledged to introduce a Clean Ait Zone,

including charging polluting heavy vehicles to

enter the zone.

Conservative Andy Street narrowly won

the West Midlands Mayoral election on 4

May 2017, securing 238,628 first and

second preference votes (50.4%)

compared to second placed Labour

Candidate Sion Simon, who secured

234,862 votes (49.6%).

Mr Street’s win was seen as a huge win

for the Conservative Party, in an area

that traditionally votes Labour. Speaking

after his election he said his victory was

the beginning of a "new, urban

Conservative agenda".

Before securing the Conservative

nomination for West Midlands Mayor,

Mr Street served as Managing Director

of the John Lewis from 2007 to 2016. He

joined John Lewis as a trainee in 1985,

having harboured unsuccessful ambitions

to be a social worker. Mr Street worked

his way through the hierarchy to become

managing director of John Lewis Milton

Keynes in 1993, moving to Bluewater in

1998, where he was promoted to Supply

Chain Manager in 2000.

From 2011 to 2016 he served as Chair of

the Greater Birmingham and Solihull

Local Enterprise Partnership and will

therefore have experience of working with

some of the local council leaders he will be

working with as Mayor.

During his election campaign he

promised to turn the Wet Midlands into

Britain’s economic powerhouse.

West Midlands Mayor

https://andy4wm.co.uk/-/media/Documents/Andy-Street-West-Mids-Renewal-Plan2-(003).ashx?la=en

https://andy4wm.co.uk/-/media/Documents/Andy-Street-West-Mids-Renewal-Plan2-(003).ashx?la=en

https://andy4wm.co.uk/-/media/Clarissa/Andy-Street-Digital-Manifesto.ashx?la=en

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Mr Street has pledged to extend the Midland Metro tram, re-open a number of rail lines and

to push Network Rail and rail operators to increase the number of trains to ease

overcrowding.

Mr Street pledged to increase spending on cycling forty-fold to £10 per head.

On buses he pledged to protect free buses for older people, accelerate the roll out of smart

ticketing, review bus lanes and review ticket prices every year with bus companies.

Mr Street does not support bus franchising but he said he would explore “whether launching

a mutual Park and Ride or bus service owned by its employees, would be feasible for the

West Midlands.”

While supporting better connectivity to Birmingham Airport he is against a second runway

at Birmingham airport.


Mr Street is committed to building on brownfield first to protect the greenbelt. He would

work with councils to compile a register of brownfield sites and spend £200m on the

preparation and decontamination of brownfield sites.

Pledge to work with Government and councils to release public sector land and work with

neighbouring councils to identify sites for building.

He would measures to speed up housebuilding, such as a tax on vacant land being held for

development and would review rules on housing density.

Mr Street would work with local authorities and housing associations to encourage new

mixed housing developments with more affordable housing.

To tackle empty homes he will push local authorities to bring more empty homes back into

use and make it easier for developers to convert buildings.

Pledged to “Train a new Mayor’s Army of skilled construction workers.”

Mr Street would launch a Rough Sleeping taskforce.

Business

He pledged to champion the needs of the West Midlands in Brexit

negotiations.

Mr Street said he would make sure small and medium-sized

businesses have a fair chance at bidding for goods or services

commissioned under the Mayor’s control and work to make business

support schemes easier to access.

Pledged to create a Future High Streets Taskforce.

Mr Street said he would create a Mayor’s Digital Skills Institute, ensure access to superfast

broadband for every business and household and explore free wifi in town centres.

He pledged to support a number of sectors including manufacturing, the automotive sector,

professional services and the Life Sciences Industry.


Pledged to reduce youth unemployment rate in the West Midlands to zero.

Mr Street pledged to support local authorities trying to raise standards in schools, encourage

as much school choice as possible and to make sure there is funding available for everyone to

learn English.

11


Mr Street will use procurement rules to make businesses provide employment or training

opportunities to young people. He will also encourage employers to offer “retrunships.”

He will launch a “Mayor’s Mentor’s scheme and explore whether a West Midlands All Age

Careers Service could be created.

Pledge to extend the Work Coaches programme across the entire West Midlands area.

He will create a West Midlands Skills Fund using £150-180m from the Apprenticeship levy.

He will seek further funding for apprenticeships form Government, such as the

Apprenticeship levy


• Mr Street will use Government funding to pilot initiatives such as the “Wellbeing

Premium” pilot.

• Pledge to personally chair the West Midlands Well-Being Board to put the

recommendations of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission into action. He also

called for a Zero Suicide Ambition to prevent suicides in the region.

• He will explore whether the mutual model could be applied to social care providers.

Policing and Emergency Services

• Mr Street will work with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to

tackle crime and call for more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour on public transport.

• He will call for the Mayor to take over the responsibilities of the Police and Crime

Commissioner in 2020, in time for the second mayoral term.

12


The Liverpool City Region Mayor will chair the

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The

Liverpool City Region Mayor is a separate role to that of

the Mayor of Liverpool who will continue to have

responsibility for running Liverpool City Council.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is a

partnership of six local authorities: Halton, Kowsley,

Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. The Mayor will

be supported by the leaders of the six councils in the

region, each of whom will have a clear portfolio of

responsibilities.

Budget and Finance



amend the budget if supported by two thirds of

members.



Pot’ is made up of several different budgets including an investment fund grant worth £30m

each year (£900m over 30 years).



Transport


for the area. This Plan will need the agreement two thirds of members of the Combined

Authority.



authority area.


Network’ of the most important local roads. The Key Route Network can be rejected by a two

thirds majority of members of the combined authority.


Strategic Plan- The Mayor will be responsible for preparing a spatial development strategy for

the area. This plan will need the approval of all members of the Combined Authority.

Important Planning Applications – The Mayor will be consulted on planning applications of

strategic importance and will be able deicide the outcome of the application.

Local authorities comprising the Liverpool City

Region Combined Authority, with council control

by party as of May 2017.

13


Compulsory Purchase – The Mayor and Combined

Authority will have compulsory purchase powers.

Mayoral Development Corporations – The Mayor

will be able to propose that particular areas should

be included in a Mayoral Development

Corporation. The Mayor will need the agreement

of the relevant local council and the agreement of

two thirds of combined authority members.


Apprenticeship Grant for Employers - The Mayor

and combined authority will have control of the

Apprenticeship Grant for Employers.










Labour’s Steve Rotheram published a manifesto entitled

Our Future Together. Please see below a summary of his

pledges.


Mr Rotheram has pledged to establish “effective

scrutiny structures with representation from every

borough, every political group and key civic

stakeholders.”

He will establish a Fairness and Social Justice

Advisory Board to review every aspect of the

Mayor’s and combined authority policy and

practice.

Will press for more freedom and autonomy to fund

infrastructure projects and greater control of local

taxes.

Labour’s Steve Rotheram was elected

Liverpool City Region Mayor with

171,167 first preference votes (59.3%),

easily defeating second placed

Conservative candidate Tony Caldeira

who secured 58,805 (20.4%).

A former bricklayer and self-made

construction entrepreneur, Mr

Rotherham is a former Lord Mayor of

Liverpool, and represented Fazakerley

ward on Liverpool City Council from

2002 until 2011.

He was first elected as an MP in the 2010

General Election. During his time as MP

he served on the Communities and Local

Government Committee and the Culture,

Media and Sport Committee and in

October 2015 was appointment as PPS to

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Rotheram supported Andy Burnham

in the 2010 and 2015 Labour leadership

elections and he has also pledged to work

with the new Greater Manchester Mayor

on issue that affect both areas. He voted

Remain in the EU Referendum.

In August 2016 he was selected as

Labour’s candidate for Liverpool City

Region Mayor, defeating Liverpool City

Council Mayor Joe Anderson and

Luciana Berger MP.

The key themes of election campaign were

for the Liverpool City Region to be

ambitious, fair, green and better

connected.

Liverpool City Region Mayor

http://www.steverotheram.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FINAL-Steve-Rotheram-Our-future-together-Screen-min.pdf

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Transport

Pledged to use bus franchising powers to commit to clean electric or hydrogen buses from

2020.

Mr Rotheram said he would explore concessionary travel passes for new apprentices and

other affordable fares and targeted concessions.

Pledged to introduce new rail services and expand the number of Merseyrail services.

Mr Rotherham will work to ensure that Liverpool has a direct connection to HS2 and

Northern Powerhouse Rail.

He committed to delivering a walking and cycling strategy.

Pledged to support the Port of Liverpool with infrastructure investment and better transport

connections to the Port.


In the first 100 days he will convene a housing summit which will include scoping the role

for a City Region wide vehicle to deliver new homes to rent and buy and other affordable

tenures.

He will use planning and housing powers to encourage better use of brownfield land,

promote good design and improve attractiveness of neighbourhoods across City Region.

Pledged to launch a Metro Mayor’s Housing Challenge Competition to identify and pilot

new ways to meet out housing needs.

He will work with local authorities to tackle poor quality rented accommodation and empty

homes.

Business

Mr Rotheram said one of his first actions will be to commission the City Region’s first

Strategic Economic Review.

Pledged to establish a City Region Fair Employment Charter that recognises businesses that

meet certan standards.

He will use smart procurement procedures, supply chain management and local labour

clauses in combined authority contracts to maximise social value and economic benefits. He

will also use influence to foster similar policies and principles across public sector

procurement in the City Region.

He will introduce an annual Innovation Award to encourage

advancements in the high-tech and knowledge sectors.

Pledges to develop and implement a digital inclusion strategy and

lobby Government and network providers for investment to improve

broadband.


Pledges to support the work of Local Education Authorities to improve education standards

and will encourage greater collaboration and innovation to deal with educational

underachievement.

He will establish a new Independent Careers Service.

15


Mr Rotheram calls for region wide imitative to give people a second chance at education and

training

He committed to being a Real Living Wage employer.

Pledge to roll out ‘gold standard’ and degree-level apprenticeships and to develop an easily

accessible apprentices portal for people to apply for apprenticeships online across the City

Region.

He will press Government to devolve further powers relating to the 16-19 year old and

adult skills budgets and to ensure that underspend from the Apprenticeship Levy is ring

fenced for the Mayor.

Mr Rotherham calls for the Department for Work and Pensions to give the City Region its

own contract package under the new Work and Health Programme.

Energy and Environment

Pledged to create a Liverpool City Region Renewable Energy Company.

Mr Rotheram will develop a strategy aimed at becoming a zero-carbon city by 2040 and

develop a solar energy strategy,

Pledged to establish a green energy investment fund to promote renewable and community

energy


Mr Rotheram has pledged to convene a City Region health and social care summit.

16


The West of England Mayor will chair the West of

England Combined Authority. The West of England

Mayor is a separate role to that of the Mayor of Bristol

who will continue to have responsibility for running

Bristol City Council.

The West of England Combined Authority is a

partnership of three local authorities: Bath & North East

Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The Mayor

will be supported by a Cabinet consisting of the leaders

of the 3 local councils. Each member of the Cabinet will

have a portfolio of responsibilities.

Budget and Finance



amend the budget if supported by two thirds of

members.



Pot’ is made up of several different budgets including an investment fund grant £30m per

year (worth £900m over 30 years).


Transport


for the area. This Plan will need the support of the Mayor and two other members of the

Combined Authority.



authority area.




Strategic Plan - The Mayor will be responsible for preparing a spatial development strategy

for the area. This plan will need the approval of all members of the Combined Authority.

Important Planning Applications – The Mayor will be consulted on planning applications of

strategic importance and will be able deicide the outcome of the application.


purchase powers.

Local authorities comprising the West of England

Combined Authority, with council control by party

as of May 2017.

17





Corporation. The Mayor will need the agreement

of the relevant local council and the agreement of

two thirds of combined authority members.














Conservative Tim Bowles did not publish a manifesto

during the election campaign. The following information

is based on press releases and social media output from

Mr Bowles, as well as press reports.

Transport

He is a strong supporter of new roads and during

the campaign supported the A36/A46 link road to

bypass Bath, M4 Junction 18a and link road and

improvements to the A4 Bath road.

To tackle air pollution he is a supporter of clean air

zones but has also said new road projects and help

remove HGVs from city centres.

He has called for reviving suburban rail services

in the West of England, including new rail services

and new rail stations.

He pledged to use bus franchising powers to

develop an improved strategic bus network and

has called for integrated smart ticketing across all

modes of transport.

Conservative Time Bowles was elected

West of England Mayor on 4th May with

70,300 first and second preference votes

(51.6%). Second placed Labour candidate

Lesley Mansell secured 65,923 votes

(48.4%).

Mr Bowles has served as a South

Gloucestershire Councillor since 2010,

and was a member of the senior leadership

team of the controlling Conservative

Group. He has worked as a business

development manager for the events and

exhibitions company RTH and has also

served as a governor of a school form

2003 and 2015.

During his campaign Mr Bowles

successfully appealed to voters outside of

Bristol, warning that if a Labour

candidate won the mayoral race, areas

outside of Bristol would be ignored. In the

first round of voting he finished in third

place in Bristol behind Labour and the

Liberal Democrats.

He was also keen to stress during his

campaign that he was the only candidate

who could work with a Conservative

Government, Conservative MPs and

Conservative Council’s to deliver for the

West of England.

West of England Mayor

18



Mr Bowles supports building on brownfield land rather than the greenbelt: “As Mayor I

will work to ease the pressure for green field development and the Green Belt. Too often

green field development has been the ‘easy’ option when brownfield regeneration sites

haven’t been exhausted”.

He has opposed the development of the Buckover Garden Village near Thornberry.

Business, Education, Skills and Employment

Mr Bowles has pledged to “do everything I can to support small businesses, and the

enterprising and hardworking people who run them, to help them flourish.”

He has pledged to work with the Government to develop apprenticeship schemes across the

area.

19


The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor will

chair Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined

Authority, a partnership of local authorities in

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Cambridgeshire

County Council, Cambridge City Council, East

Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, South

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.


the leaders of the local councils. Each member of the

Cabinet will have a portfolio of responsibilities.

Budget and Finance


mayoral functions. The Combined Authority

can amend the budget if supported by two

thirds of members.

The main source of the Mayor’s funding will

come from a ‘Single Pot’ of funding from the

Government that can be spent on different

projects to support the local economy. The ‘Single

Pot’ is made up of several different budgets including an investment fund grant £20m per

year (worth £600m over 30 years)

Transport


for the area. This Plan will need the support of the Mayor and two other members of the

Combined Authority.



authority area.




Housing Fund and Grant – The combined authority will have control of a £100m housing and

infrastructure fund and has been granted £70m for additional hosing in the City of

Cambridge.

Strategic Plan - The Mayor will be responsible for preparing a non-statutory spatial framework

for the area. The spatial framework will need the unanimous approval of combined authority

members.

Local authorities comprising Cambridge and

Peterborough Combined Authority, with council

control by party as of May 2017.

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Corporation. The Mayor will need the agreement of

the relevant local council and the agreement of two

thirds of combined authority members.














Conservative James Palmer did not publish a manifesto

during the election campaign. However, following his

election to the mayoralty he published a strategy outlining

his plans for his first 100 days in power.

Finance

In first 100 days he will launch the Cambridgeshire

and Peterborough Investment Fund, publish an

investment strategy and bring forward the first

series of investment for delivery.

Transport

In first 100 days he will publish a Local Transport

Plan, announce the first tranche of funding for

priority transport and infrastructure schemes and

hold a Future Transport Conference.

Pledged to commission business cases for dualling

the A47 and upgrading the A10 and launch a

feasibility study for extending the M11 to the A47

in first 100 days.

Conservative James Palmer comfortably

won the Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough Mayoral election with

88,826 first and second preference votes

(56.9%) compared to second place Liberal

Democrat Rod Cantrill who secured

67,205 (43.1%).

Mr Palmer has been involved in local

politics since 2007, recently serving as

Leader of East Cambridgeshire District

Council and as a Cambridgeshire County

Council. He has a professional

background in farming and used to run a

dairy business.

He was selected as the Conservative

candidate for Mayor in January 2017,

defeating Councillor Steve Count, leader

of Cambridgeshire County Council and

Cllr Roger Harrison, executive member

for growth at Huntingdonshire District

Council.

Following his election he said “What we

have in Cambridgeshire is almost unique.

We have the building blocks of success -

we just need somebody to put them

together. Improving the infrastructure,

linking the great city of Cambridge to

Peterborough and bringing Fenland into

the fold will be absolutely vital if we are

to be a success.”

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor

21


Mr Palmer will commission a feasibility study for the Light Rail and Underground for

Cambridge in his first 100 days.

He will work with the National Infrastructure Commission to promote investment in the

Cambridge-Oxford Arc, including the A428.

He has pledged to work with Infrastructure Commission to promote investment into the

Cambridge Network Rail to advance strategic rail priorities for our area.

Mr Palmer will commission a feasibility study together with the Local Enterprise

Partnerships to assess the infrastructure requirements needed to unlock Wisbeh Garden

Town and will develop a Masterplan for St Neots.

Mr Palmer has ruled out congestion charging.

During the campaign he expressed support for shuttle min-buses acting as a feeder for other

forms of transport and expressed support for autonomous vehicles.


In first 100 days he will commission the Non Statutory Spatial Plan for

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, form a Land Commission and

map the needs of communities so that strategic plans tackle

disadvantage throughout the area.

In first 100 days he will announce the first wave of affordable housing

schemes, commence consultation on a Mayoral Housing Fund, launch

the development of a strategy to accelerate delivery of 100,000 new

homes and lead a ‘Building for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Conference’.

Pledged to commission a feasibility study to consider how off-site construction methods can

be used to speed up housing delivery.

He will promote Community Land Trusts.

During the campaign he said “Only in exceptional circumstances will councils be allowed to

alter Green Belt boundaries after consulting local people and submitting revised Local Plans

for examination.”

He has identified the key barrier to housebuilding is increasing the speed homes are built

once planning permission is granted.

Pledged to make the planning system more open, improve the co-ordination of public

investment in infrastructure, support timely connections to utilities, and tackle unnecessary

delays by giving councils and developers the tools they need to build more swiftly.

Business, Education, Skills and Employment

Mr Palmer has pledged to establish an independent Economic Commission and commission

work to develop a plan for sustained economic growth of Greater Peterborough and Greater

Cambridge and

He will work with the Local Enterprise Partnership to develop a plan for inward investment

post Brexit.

He supports the establishment of a university in Peterborough and pledged to announce the

next phase of funding in the first 100 days.

Pledged to launch plans for a new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Apprenticeship Hub

and will deliver over 500 apprenticeships to Small and Medium Enterprises in the first 100

days.

22


Mr Palmer will meet schools, colleges and Ofsted to consider a flagship ‘Into

Apprenticeships’ policy.

He will host an Employment and Skills Summit.

Pledge to develop a scheme to develop a scheme to provide skills to support 2,000 people on

Universal Credit into higher skilled health and social care jobs.

During the campaign he pledged to create business growth and spread the ‘Silicon Fen’ effect

out of Cambridge into the whole county and build a ‘CB’ brand which is recognised globally.


He has called for Cleveland Police to end in its current form and has committed to

establishing a commission “to make recommendations to ministers on finding or establishing

a successor body that could adequately replace it.”

Transport

Mr Palmer has called for a new underground metro system in Cambridge with a light

railway extending into Cambridgeshire.

He has supported upgrades to rail infrastructure and the creation of new train stations.

Pledged to improve roads in the area including upgrading the A10 and looking options for

dulling the A47.

Mr Palmer has ruled out congestion charging.

While he is more in favour of rail services he has suggested using “luxury coaches where we

need to use roads”.

He is supportive of shuttle minibuses acting as a feeder for other forms of transport and he is

supportive of autonomous vehicles.


Mr Palmer has said “Only in exceptional circumstances will councils be allowed to alter

Green Belt boundaries after consulting local people and submitting revised Local Plans for

examination.”

He has identified the key barrier to housebuilding is increasing the speed homes are built

once planning permission is granted.

Mr Palmer has said Community Land Trusts will play a part in his housing plans.

Pledged to make the planning system more open, improve the co-ordination of public

investment in infrastructure, support timely connections to utilities, and tackle unnecessary

delays by giving councils and developers the tools they need to build more swiftly.

Business

Pledged to create business growth and spread the ‘Silicon Fen’ effect

out of Cambridge into the whole county and build a ‘CB’ brand which

is recognised globally.

On Brexit he has said “a key priority for me will be ensuring that we

grab with both hands the opportunities presented by the Prime

Minister's Global Britain agenda and achieve our true potential as a

county.”

23



Mr Palmer fully supports the establishment of a university in Peterborough.

He has argued for greater esteem for apprenticeships and has suggested school should get

league table points for getting young people into apprenticeships.

24


The Tees Valley Mayor will chair the Tees Valley

Combined Authority, a partnership of three five local

authorities: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough,

Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.


the leaders of the 5 local councils. Each member of the

Cabinet will have a portfolio of responsibilities.

Budget and Finance



amend the budget if supported by three fifths of

members.

The main source of the Mayor’s funding will come

from a ‘Single Pot’ of funding from the

Government that can be spent on different projects

to support the local economy. The ‘Single Pot’ is made up of several different budgets

including an investment fund grant worth £15 each year (£450m over 30 years).


Transport


for the area. This Plan will need the agreement three fifths of members of the Combined

Authority.



authority area.






agreement of the relevant local council and the agreement of two thirds of combined

authority members.


Apprenticeship Grant for Employers - The Mayor and combined authority will have control

of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers.

Local authorities comprising Tees Valley

Combined Authority, with council control by

party as of May 2017.

25











Conservative Ben Houchen did not publish a manifesto

during the election campaign. The following information

is based on press releases and social media output form

Mr Houcen, as well as press reports.

Transport

One of Mr Houchen’s most eye catching policies

has been to buy back Durham Tees Valley

Airport. He has said he will use funding provided

by the Government to raise additional money to

purchase the airport. He has said compulsory

purchase would be a "last resort" but there are

plenty of options available, for example "public

private partnerships".

He is opposed to bus franchising.


Mr Houchen has pledged to build a new garden

village or a new town.

He has pledged to secure additional funding to

bring brownfield sites back into use.

He has called for a proper local plan to be drawn

up to stop "towns being attacked by ad-hoc

planning applications by developers".


He said improving skills and the further education

was a top priority. He has also bemoaned the

“dizzying” profusion of grants and programmes

for firms trying to access training funding and

talented graduates, which he feels are making these

policies unworkable.

In the most shocking mayoral election

result of May 2017, Conservative Ben

Houchen secured 48,578 first and second

preference votes (51.2%) to defeat Labour

candidate and favourite Sue Jeffery, who

secured 46,400 votes (48.9%), and thus

went on to become Tees Valley Mayor.

The result has been attributed to the

area’s strong vote in favour of leaving the

EU, but also a number of eye-catching

policies from Mr Houchen, such as

buying Durham Tees Valley Airport and

campaigning to ensure protected status

for the Chicken Parmesan or "parmo".

From 2011 to 2017, he served as a

Stockton Councillor and as Leader of the

Conservative Group on the Council. He

has previously stood in the

Middlesbrough by-election on the 29th

November, following the death of

incumbent MP Sir Stuart Bell, finishing

fourth with 6.3% of vote. He also

contested the 2014 European Parliament

election for the North East region.

During his victory speech Mr Houchen

said: "We are seeing a massive trend

towards the Conservatives […] We have

started to turn the Tees Valley blue".

Tees Velley Mayor

26


He has praised the Government’s response to the closure of the SSI steelworks plant and has

emphasised the importance of the South Tees Development Corporation.


He has called for Cleveland Police to end in its current form and has committed to

establishing a commission “to make recommendations to ministers on finding or establishing

a successor body that could adequately replace it”.

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