COULD YOU BE THE NEW MAYOR OF NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK?
Combined Authority Mayor
Job purpose: Represent, defend, and promote local interests, at a local and national level, and further the well-being of local residents wherever possible across the whole area. A combined authority sits above local councils; the mayor leads the authority, working with representatives made up of local councillors nominated from each of the constituent councils in the area. They are sometimes called ‘metro-mayors’, though they are not necessarily restricted to just metropolitan boroughs.
Policy responsibilities:
The policy areas in which a combined authority has responsibility can vary by area, depending on the ‘devolution deal’ agreed with the Government. This can often include local transport, strategic planning, regeneration and economic development, adult education, fire, and/or waste policy. This complements the more ‘frontline’ services which councils continue to deliver.
In some areas, the mayor may also have responsibility for policing, effectively serving as the Police and Crime Commissioner for the area, rather than having a separate Commissioner.
The mayor may often charge a levy (‘precept’) on the council tax bills issued by local councils.
They are normally elected to serve for a four-year term and directly elected by the public.
This should not be confused with a council’s ceremonial mayor – who are generally a long-serving councillor, serving for a year, undertaking civic duties like opening buildings and public events. A few councils may also have an elected mayor for that council.
Nature and scope:
A combined authority mayor will:
• Oversee the delivery of strategic policies and statutory functions within the remit of the combined authority.
• Work in and for the local area, locally, nationally and internationally. This is in part representational; in part promoting or defending the interests of the combined authority area as a whole; and in part it is designed to champion individual constituents.
• Work in support of the party to which the mayor belongs, and for which he/she was elected. Principal accountabilities:
• Represent the whole area on the local, national and international stage.
• The mayor should be able to work with leaders of councils, MPs, businesses, and other key partner organisations (e.g. colleges, universities, local trade bodies) to create jobs, drive sustainable economic growth, improve skills, build homes, and make it easier to travel. Diplomacy, negotiation, and joint working is essential.
• Be subject to democratic scrutiny by the councillors sitting on the combined authority and be accountable to further scrutiny by press and public.
• Establish and maintain a range of contacts throughout the local area, and proper knowledge of its characteristics, to identify and understand issues affecting it and, wherever possible, further the interests of the area generally.
• Provide appropriate assistance to individual constituents, through using knowledge of local agencies and institutions, to progress and where possible help resolve their problems for which the combined authority is responsible.
• Promote public understanding of local party policies in the local area, media and elsewhere to facilitate the achievement of party objectives, especially in areas without MPs or councillors from the party.
• Act as a local figurehead for the party across the local area, constructively working with the party’s MPs and councillors to support the party’s wider electoral success. A mayor should be a central part of that political team.
Person specification
Essential - Prioritisation - Resilience - Self-starter - Political Conviction with Conservative values - Life Experience - Leader/Role Model - Judgement - Emotional Intelligence - Diversity and Inclusion - Passion and Energy
Desirable - Campaigning Experience - Listening Skills - Politically aware - Problem-solving - To be community minded - Ability to relate.
To register your interest in finding out more, please visit https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=8wLDNGfjZESEmsIKGvhVRlHXqorOlvdOhUiZvLCT_NxUQTQ3U1JMUkFDTlJFSUdJTDhHNzc3NkVJRC4u&deliveryName=DM57559 as soon as possible.
