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Think-tanks call for vote on ‘metro mayors’
MINISTERS should allow elected mayors to govern over the whole of Leeds or Sheffield city regions to transform the region, according to a report published today.
Referenda are due to take place in Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield next May for voters to decide whether an elected mayor should run each of their cities.
But a report for the Institute for Government and Centre for Cities argues that Yorkshire could be better served by the introduction of “metro mayors” – ruling over Leeds city region or Sheffield city region – and says the Government should allow this option to be included in the referenda.
The authors admit the idea “could be most complicated” in Leeds City Region because of the possibility for mayors in each of Wakefield, Leeds and Bradford, and the idea may be difficult for many locally to swallow.
The report also says that mayors must be given real powers to take the “tough decisions” that will stimulate economic growth.
In an attempt to wield power on a similar scale to the London Mayor, mayors should co-chair local enterprise partnerships, chairing the integrated transport authority taking decisions on major infrastructure projects or major housing sites, the report says.
Andrew Adonis, director of the Institute for Government, added: “Evidence from the UK and abroad shows that elected mayors can have a transformative effect on city economies. But if they are going to succeed, government first has to give them the powers to make a difference.”
Alexandra Jones, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “Citizens in every city and city region should be able to make their own decisions about the right governance for their place and their economy. So we are also urging the government to amend legislation to give cities the option to have either a local authority or metro mayor.”
A Government spokesman said mayors “could raise the profile of English cities and strengthen local democracy”.
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