New breed of mayors ‘exceeded powers in promises’

THE NEW generation of metro-mayors campaigned on manifestos which frequently made policy commitments beyond their current powers, the national spending watchdog has found, as the organisation claims there is “a strong perception in certain areas” that elected mayors are “unsuitable to their local context”.

In its new report on devolution, the NAO offers a mixed assessment of the Government’s agenda as it praises ministers for their “speedy” work in setting up new combined authorities but warns the benefits of transferring greater control to these bodies remain “inconclusive”.

It also highlights the growing complexity around local government structures, with many devolution deals introducing new layers of administration and crossing traditional geographical boundaries. The organisation argues that these changes must be shown to drive local growth and deliver genuine reform if they are to avoid becoming another “curiosity of history”.

The new report comes as local authorities continue to wrangle over the details of a devolution deal for West Yorkshire, and the Sheffield City Region awaits its first mayoral election next year.

Using West Yorkshire as a case study alongside finalised deals in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, the NAO concludes the Government is making “progress” in delivering devolution, and worked “speedily” to prepare for May’s local elections.

However, it also raises concerns over the credibility of regional mayors, warning candidates often made campaign commitments that went “beyond the powers defined in their devolution deals”. It adds: “There is a strong perception in certain areas that the Government’s preferred model of a combined authority with an elected mayor is unsuitable to their local context.”