Getting elected mayors into four cities in region could cost £3.5m

Holding referendums in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield next year is expected to cost £658,000, according to an impact assessment by the Government.

If voters were to back the move, the first two elections – in 2013 and 2017 – are expected to cost a further £3m even though the Government admits that evidence is “inconclusive” about whether elected mayors are any more effective than traditional council set-ups.

If England’s 12 biggest cities all vote in favour of elected mayors – as the Government hopes – the total bill could top £15m.

The Government has also revealed that elected mayors – who will be given extra powers – would be expected to pocket twice as much as council leaders currently get – with an average salary likely to be about £88,267.

Under the Localism Bill which is going through Parliament, referendums will automatically be held in the 12 biggest local authority areas.

But many senior councillors in the region are strongly opposed to the idea and the costs will raise concern given pressures on public spending.

The impact assessment published by the Department of Communities and Local Government reveals that the referendums are expected to cost £238,000 in Leeds, £168,000 in Sheffield, £140,000 in Bradford and £112,000 in Wakefield.

If voters back the idea, the first two elections would cost £1,100,800 in Leeds, £768,000 in Sheffield, £649,000 in Bradford and £505,600 in Wakefield according to the average costs of mayoral elections elsewhere.