'˜Interim mayor' option could pave the way for early devolution deal

Elections for the Sheffield City Region deal are currently post-poned until May of next year, as the result of a legal challenge against Chesterfield’s bid to join the project.

Until now it has been understood that this means the combined authority will have to wait until 2018 before it can exercise new powers or make the most of a £30m annual funding settlement.

However, responding to a question from the Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, ministers indicated it may be possible to find a way to unlock these benefits before elections take place.

Addressing Local Government minister Andrew Percy in the Commons today, Mr Betts asked whether it was true “that might be possible... for local authorities to access the £30m on offer if they agree to appoint an interim mayor”.

Mr Percy replied that the Government remains committed to securing a deal for the region “as quickly as possible”, and “can look at interim mayors if necessary”.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post afterwards, Mr Betts urged local authorities to consider pursuing the option. He argued it “isn’t every day a Conservative Government offers Labour authorities £30m” and the region “shouldn’t think too hard about taking it”.

“It looks possible now... that if the authorities decide they want to go ahead, then the Government would lay down conditions on which it would be possible for them to pay the £30m in advance of the mayoral election,” he said.

“It was disappointing that the elections have been delayed a year, but it needn’t stop the money coming in to the Sheffield city region.

“With all those potential obstacles it was logical to postpone elections ‘til May of next year.

“I just hope we can now get on and do this.”

Mr Percy stressed that the request for such an arrangement would need to come from the combined authority.

He added it would likely require secondary legislation.