53-574: The Mayor of the West Midlands is a directly elected political post who chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority , covering the local authorities serving Birmingham , Coventry , Dudley , Sandwell , Solihull , Walsall and Wolverhampton . The most recent election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024. Richard Parker took his post as Mayor after defeating former incumbent Andy Street by 1,508 votes. The previous election
106-612: A cabinet committee for England including other secretaries of state from departments whose remits mainly apply to England only. Following Labour's victory in the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new prime minister Keir Starmer informally met England's combined authority mayors and the mayor of London on 9 July. The first formal meeting of the Mayoral Council, chaired by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner , took place on 10 October 2024 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and
159-513: A council voted in favour of the change in executive model. The elected cabinet option was not taken forward. The 2007 legislation required all local authorities to review their executive arrangements again and consider the case for an elected mayor. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 introduced the combined authority structure. Other subsequent Acts (see below) inserted sections into LDEDCA which created new posts of mayor for combined authorities. In February 2006,
212-523: A different title, for example "Governor", "elected leader" or "county commissioner". There are several "devolution deals" that are set to be enshrined in statute following the LURA receiving royal assent. Devolution deals had been agreed in principle with Norfolk and Suffolk by the Conservative government which involve directly-elected leaders of each county's council. Norfolk County Council voted to accept
265-414: A directly elected mayor is one of these options. The 2000 act ended the previous committee -based system, where functions were exercised by committees of the council (although this was reinstated in 2012). All of several hundred principal councils were required to review their executive arrangements under the 2000 legislation. Local authorities considering the option of an elected mayor were required to put
318-636: A mayoral combined authority. The role of the council would be to debate issues related to local and regional governance in England, to call ministers and experts to provide evidence and to advise the UK central Government on English affairs. The Existing Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government would be split into a Department for Housing and Communities and an Office for England, which would take on responsibility for oversight of devolved and local governance in England. The Secretary of State for England would chair
371-552: A new referendum, citing poor turnout and a very close result in the 2001 referendum. In April 2007, Lewisham Council voted 28–24 against a motion calling for consultation over the issue. In Doncaster , in March 2007, "Fair Deal" campaigners presented an 11,000-signature petition to the council calling for a new referendum. The council voted 31–27 in favour of a new referendum, which was held in May 2012. The electorate voted in favour of retaining
424-462: A politically representative committee of councillors, and the mayor may not attempt to influence the decision as to who is appointed (except within the committee as a member of the committee). To maintain the staff's professional and political independence, the mayor (or any other member of the council) may not personally direct any member of staff. Accordingly, an elected mayor cannot really be accurately characterised as an executive mayor, as in parts of
477-588: A referendum following a petition, as is the case for directly elected mayors elsewhere in England. The role should not be confused with the ancient position of Lord Mayor of London , elected annually by liverymen of the City of London . Elsewhere in England and Wales , since the Local Government Act 2000 , there have been a range of options for how a local council executive leadership can be constituted, and installing
530-537: A referendum held on the same day. In 2014, it was announced that mayors would be created as leaders of the combined authorities, subject to new primary legislation. In 2017, elections were held for Liverpool City Region , Greater Manchester , Tees Valley , West of England and the West Midlands as part of the devolution deals allowed by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 . That act inserted sections into
583-456: A referendum on such a proposal, in May 2004. Over 70% of the voters voted against the proposal. In October 2006, the DCLG white paper Strong and Prosperous Communities proposed that in future the requirement for a referendum to approve the establishment of an elected mayor for a council area be dropped in favour of a simple resolution of the council following community consultation. It also proposed
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#1732851958564636-646: A referendum. Liverpool City Council chose to abolish the post of elected mayor and revert to a leader and cabinet model from May 2023 following a 2022 consultation on its future governance. Referendums were held in North Tyneside and Torbay in May 2016 to determine the future of their mayoralties. While North Tyneside voted to retain the system, Torbay voted in favour of returning to a leader and cabinet style of governance. Further referendums were held in May 2021 in Newham and Tower Hamlets , which both voted to retain
689-454: A short article supporting directly elected mayors in large English cities. The Localism Act 2011 permitted central government to trigger referendums for elected mayors, and this was intended to happen in the largest cities during 2012. Ahead of this, Leicester City Council in 2011 and Liverpool City Council in 2012 exercised their option to have a directly elected mayor without a referendum. In September 2011 citizens of Salford collected
742-410: A vote and five retained. Two local authority mayors, those for Leicester and Liverpool , were created by city council resolution without holding a referendum. As of May 2024 , there are 25 directly elected mayors in England. Former mayoralties are: Mayoral Council for England The Mayoral Council for England is a political body in England that brings together ministers from
795-495: A year. However, no action was taken to form such a body. Plans for a "Council of England" featured in a 2022 Labour Party report on constitutional reform by Gordon Brown titled A New Britain: Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy . The proposed council would be chaired by the prime minister and would include leaders of combined authorities , the mayor of London, representatives of local government and other stakeholders in England. Earlier, Labour's manifesto for
848-405: Is a subset, for example not having power over education, libraries and waste management. The Mayor of London has completely different powers to the "mayor and cabinet" leaders. A local-authority elected mayor has powers similar to those of the executive committee in a Leader and Cabinet model local authority. These are described as either "exclusive" powers or "co-decision" powers and are defined in
901-645: Is found to be "local demand in our major towns and cities". A mayor in Scotland is traditionally known as a provost . There are no directly elected mayors in Northern Ireland. Offices of mayors in Northern Ireland are only a ceremonial position. The powers of the mayor are commensurate with the kind of local authority for which they are the executive. London borough councils , metropolitan district councils and unitary authority councils have broadly similar functions, but for non-metropolitan district councils it
954-550: Is responsible for franchised bus services, allowing for standardised fares and branding on all bus services in the county, similar to how London's bus network operates. The Mayor is also responsible for the West Midlands Key Route Network, which is managed by Transport for West Midlands on behalf of the Mayor. The Mayor is responsible for ensuring that the first devolution deal is put into action and acts on behalf of
1007-478: The 2017 general election included a commitment to establish the post of a "Minister for England" within the Department of Communities and Local Government. The 2021 The Dunlop Review into UK Government Union Capability suggested that consideration could be given to establishing an "English Regions Forum" to "feed views in from sub-national governments in England to UK Government ministers". A 2022 report by
1060-541: The Electoral Reform Society suggested the establishment of an "English Leaders' Forum" to bring together UK ministers with combined authority mayors, single local authority mayors and council leaders. It also suggested the creation of an "England Office" to act as a representative for English local government to the UK government and serve to coordinate between central and local government on English devolved matters. Conservative leaning think tank Onward proposed
1113-570: The Institute for Public Policy Research published a report calling for elected mayors in Birmingham and Manchester , which was positively received by the government, but not by the two city councils concerned. Later Prime Minister David Cameron expressed support for the system, saying directly elected mayors are "accountable" and can "galvanise action". On 2 May 2012, think tank the Bow Group published
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#17328519585641166-618: The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 for the election of mayors of combined authorities. A delayed election for the Sheffield City Region followed in May 2018. The North of Tyne Authority and the North East Combined Authority were merged into the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority , the first election for which took place in May 2024. Combined authority mayors are members of
1219-490: The Local Government Act 2000 can also be used to remove the post of mayor and revert to the typical "leader and cabinet" executive arrangement. Such methods could not initially be used to remove the post of mayor if it was established following a Government-mandated referendum. However, a House of Lords amendment to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 amended the Local Government Act 2000 to establish
1272-519: The UK Government , the Mayor of London , and combined authority mayors . UK prime minister David Cameron proposed in 2012 that England's directly elected mayors sit within an "English Cabinet of Mayors", giving them the opportunity to share ideas and represent their regions at English national level. This proposed cabinet of mayors would have been chaired by the prime minister and meet at least twice
1325-576: The University of Cambridge 's Bennett Institute for Public Policy proposed the formation of an "English Devolution Council", and the establishment of an "Office for England" led by a "Secretary of State for England". Under the proposals the English Devolution Council would include the mayor of London and existing combined authority mayors. An interim mechanism would be put in place for the participation of local leaders in areas of England without
1378-639: The mayor of Greater Manchester and the mayor of the West Midlands . Legislation on directly elected mayors applies both to England and Wales , but there are currently no directly elected mayors in Wales . All devolved regional mayors currently have a seat on the Council of the Nations and Regions , where they sit alongside the UK Prime Minister and First Ministers of devolved governments. The Mayor of London and
1431-557: The England-only Mayoral Council and the UK-wide Council of the Nations and Regions . The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 introduced new types of measures in the local government system in England. In particular, the LURA introduced the new combined county authority structure, which is similar to existing combined authorities, created new powers to be devolved to combined authorities, and allowed mayors to take
1484-563: The Local Government (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000. Co-decision powers are those the mayor shares with the council, notably the power to make the local authority's annual budget and its policy framework documents. These are: Annual Library Plan; Best Value Performance Plan; Children's Services Plan; Community Care Plan; Community Strategy; Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy; Early Years Development Plan; Education Development Plan; Local Development Framework; and
1537-511: The Mayor and Cabinet committee. In practice, the mayor remains personally accountable, so most mayors have chosen to delegate to a very limited extent—if at all. Local authorities in Britain remain administered by a permanent staff of chief officers led by a chief executive or chief operating officer who are politically neutral bureaucrats. Their powers remain unaffected by the introduction of elected mayor. Senior officers continue to be appointed by
1590-486: The Mayoral Council would eventually evolve into an all-England forum. Combined authority mayors and the Mayor of London also meet informally on a monthly basis as the Mayors Network (M10 Group) allowing them to consult each other, coordinate their actions, and gain access to UK government ministers. This network has been chaired by Tracy Barbin since May 2022 and previously by Dan Jarvis. As of October 2024, 48% of
1643-577: The US and certain other countries, but more as a semi-executive mayor. Consultations took place in 12 English cities due to have referendums over the introduction of elected mayors, over what powers those mayors should have, and how they should be scrutinised. As of October 2021, there have been 54 referendums on the question of changing executive arrangements to a model with an elected mayor. Referendums are triggered by council resolution, local petition or central government intervention. Of these, 17 have resulted in
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1696-407: The West Midlands mayor. Directly elected mayors in England and Wales In England, residents of some areas, or groups of areas, known as combined authorities or combined county authorities , directly elect the executive mayors of their local government. In contrast, other local authority areas typically have an executive leader and a cabinet selected from the local council, similar to how
1749-551: The Youth Justice Plan. To amend or reject a mayor's proposals for any of these documents, the council must resolve to do so by a two-thirds majority. This is again based on secondary legislation , in this case the Local Government (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001. Exclusive powers are less easy to define, because they consist of all the powers that are granted to a local authority by Act of Parliament except those defined either as co-decision powers or as "not to be
1802-479: The council is expected to meet on a quarterly basis. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it set up the Mayoral Council to "strengthen the relationships between central government and the mayors" ahead of publishing a white paper on devolution. The first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions, which also included England's combined authority mayors and the mayor of London, took place
1855-446: The deal. In May 2024, Suffolk County Council was seeking consultation. In September, the new Labour government decided to not proceed with single-authority devolution deals, instead preferring multi-authority deals involving the formation of combined authorities. The mayoral agreements for Norfolk and Suffolk agreed by the previous government will therefore not proceed. Executive arrangement reviews, petitions and local referendums in
1908-595: The direct election of council cabinets where requested, and that the 'mayor and council manager' system in Stoke-on-Trent be reformed into a conventional 'mayor and cabinet' system, it having been the only English council to adopt that system. The 'mayor and council manager' option was later revoked by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and a referendum was no longer required if two thirds of
1961-414: The establishment of a new mayoralty and 37 have been rejected by voters. Average "yes" vote is 45%. Typical turnout is around 30%, but has been as low as 10% and as high as 64%. The turnout is higher when the referendum coincides with another vote, such as an election. There have been nine referendums on the question of removing the post of elected mayor. Four mayoral posts have been disestablished following
2014-508: The first mayoral elections were won by independents, notably in Hartlepool , where the election was won by Stuart Drummond , who played Hartlepool United 's mascot; and in Middlesbrough , where it was won by former police officer Ray Mallon , who left the local police force to stand for election. Although Wales is included in the legislation, only one Welsh authority, Ceredigion , held
2067-415: The following day. Unlike the proposed "Council of England", the Mayoral Council does not include local government representatives in areas without a mayoral combined authority, or other stakeholders. However, at the 2024 Labour Party Conference , Labour reiterated its commitment to English devolution, saying that all areas of England "should eventually be covered by mayoral devolution", which would mean that
2120-480: The formation of a National Mayors Association and creation of various Joint Delivery Taskforces involving the UK central government, metro mayors and local authorities in a report titled Give Back Control published in 2022. In a report titled Devolving English Government published in April 2023, to counter what they described as over-centralisation and a democratic deficit in England, the Institute for Government and
2173-687: The mayoral system. Bristol voted to remove the post of elected mayor in a referendum on 5 May 2022, to be replaced with a committee system. Simon Jenkins wrote in The Guardian calling metro mayors a "farce of local democracy". The Local Government Act 2000 does not apply in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament has chosen to reform local government instead by introducing the Single Transferable Vote electoral system. The Scottish Conservatives support elected mayors where there
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2226-404: The mayoralty. The Middlesbrough electorate also voted to retain the mayoral system. Three councils have reverted to leader and cabinet executives. The electorate of Stoke-on-Trent voted to remove the post of elected mayor on 23 October 2008, to be replaced with a system of council leader and cabinet. In November 2012 Hartlepool also voted to scrap the position of directly elected mayor in
2279-495: The mayors of combined authorities also sit on the England-only Mayoral Council . The system of elected mayors had been considered by the Major ministry , and the former Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine had been a proponent of it. The 1997 Labour manifesto included a commitment to reform local government in London by introducing an elected mayor. The first directly elected mayor
2332-717: The national prime minister and cabinet are selected from Parliament . The first such political post was the mayor of London , created as the executive of the Greater London Authority in 2000 as part of a reform of the local government of Greater London . Since the Local Government Act 2000 , all of the several hundred principal local councils in England and Wales have been required to review their executive arrangements . Mayors who are directly elected to cover combined authorities or combined county authorities are informally known as metro mayors , as they typically cover metropolitan areas . Examples of metro mayors include
2385-488: The passing of the Elections Act 2022 , the 2024 election was, and future mayoral elections will be, run using first past the post . Eleven mayors were established during 2002, in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts , unitary authorities and London boroughs. Three further mayoralties were created under this legislation: in 2005 ( Torbay ; abolished 2019), 2010 (Tower Hamlets), and 2015 (Copeland). Some of
2438-483: The population and 26% of the land area of England is represented on the council. The membership of the Mayoral Council is currently as follows: The membership of the council will increase as new mayoral combined authorities are established in England. In September 2024, mayoral combined authorities were approved for Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire with mayors for these authorities expected to be elected in May 2025. An unofficial meeting of mayors
2491-495: The question to a local referendum . It is also possible for campaign groups to trigger a local referendum with a signed petition. A number of areas with elected mayors also have civic mayors or Lord mayors and these ceremonial roles conferred on acting councillors are separate from elected mayors. From 2000 until 2022 all directly elected mayors in England were elected using the Supplementary Vote electoral system. Following
2544-565: The region in negotiating future devolution deals with central government. The mayor is a member of the Mayoral Council for England and the Council of the Nations and Regions . The Mayor was to be vested with the police and crime commissioner functions for the West Midlands Police area from 7 May 2024. Due to an appeal by the current west Midlands PCC, the PCC powers was not be given to
2597-485: The required number of signatures to force a referendum, which was successful. The first mayoral election took place in May 2012. Using the powers in the Localism Act 2011, on 3 May 2012, referendums were held in 10 English cities to decide whether or not to switch to a system that includes a directly elected mayor. Only one, Bristol , voted for a mayoral system. Doncaster voted to retain its elected mayoral system in
2650-442: The responsibility of an authority's executive". This latter is a limited list, including quasi-judicial decisions on planning and licensing, and certain ceremonial, employment and legal decisions. An elected mayor (in a mayor and cabinet system) also has the power to appoint up to nine councillors as members of a cabinet and to delegate powers, either to them as individuals, or to the Mayor and Cabinet committee, or to subcommittees of
2703-482: The right of a future referendum to abolish any local authority elected mayor established following a Government-mandated referendum. Councillors have complained about the perceived excessive power of directly elected mayors. There have been campaigns in four of the local authorities with directly elected mayors to hold referendums to abolish the posts. In Lewisham, the Bring Back Democracy campaign called for
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#17328519585642756-459: Was delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic , so the inaugural mayoral term was extended by a year, with the second term length being reduced to three years between 2021 and 2024. The Mayor's term of office will return to four years from 2024 thereafter. The Mayor has devolved compulsory purchase powers and is responsible for the West Midlands spatial framework and land commission. The Mayor
2809-676: Was introduced in Greater London in 2000 as part of the statutory provisions of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 . The position of the elected Mayor of London is a strategic regional one, and quite different from that of local authority mayors. The work of the Mayor of London is scrutinised by the London Assembly , a unique arrangement in the English local government system. The Mayor of London cannot be removed from office by
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