Mayor of the West Midlands

Mayor of the West Midlands. The Mayor of the West Midlands is a directly elected political leader who heads the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), a strategic governance body covering a major metropolitan region in England. The position was established following a devolution deal agreed between the government of the United Kingdom and local authorities, with the inaugural election held in 2017. The mayor works alongside the leaders of constituent councils like Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, and the Metropolitan Borough of Wolverhampton to drive economic growth, transport policy, and housing development across the region.

History and establishment

The creation of the mayoralty was a central component of the devolution agenda pursued by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and the Cabinet under Prime Minister David Cameron. The specific deal was negotiated between the Treasury and local leaders, including the then-Leader of Birmingham City Council, John Clancy, and resulted in the formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority in 2016. This process mirrored similar devolution settlements in other metropolitan areas such as Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region. The legal basis for the mayoralty was established through an Order in Council under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, with the first election scheduled for May 2017 as part of a broader series of local polls.

Powers and responsibilities

The mayor's statutory powers are derived from the devolution deal and subsequent legislation, including the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. Key responsibilities include setting a strategic direction for the region's economic development, chairing the West Midlands Combined Authority, and holding a consolidated transport budget for functions delegated from National Highways and Network Rail. The mayor oversees the investment of funds from central government streams like the Getting Building Fund and works with bodies such as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner on community safety. Additional functions include spatial planning through a Spatial Development Strategy, adult education budgeting, and leveraging housing funds from Homes England.

List of mayors

The position has been held since its creation by Andy Street, the former Managing Director of John Lewis Partnership. Street, a member of the Conservative Party, won the inaugural election in 2017, defeating Labour candidate Sion Simon, a former MP for Birmingham Erdington. He was re-elected for a second term in the 2021 election, which was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His main opponent in both elections was Liam Byrne, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill.

Election process

The mayor is elected using the Supplementary Vote system, where voters mark a first and second preference. Elections are held every four years, with the entire electorate of the West Midlands county, along with the Borough of Solihull and Coventry, eligible to participate. The administration of the poll is managed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, which acts as the combined authority returning officer. Candidates must be nominated with signatures from at least 100 local electors, including 10 from each of the three largest local authority areas: Birmingham, Coventry, and the Metropolitan Borough of Wolverhampton.

Governance and regional context

The mayor operates within a complex governance landscape, leading the West Midlands Combined Authority board which comprises the leaders of seven constituent metropolitan boroughs and the Local Enterprise Partnership. The role is distinct from but must collaborate with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and the directly elected leaders of major councils like Birmingham City Council. The mayor's authority covers strategic issues that cross traditional local government boundaries, aiming to enhance the region's competitiveness against other global city-regions such as Greater London and Greater Manchester. Key partnerships include working with Midlands Engine, DLUHC, and major anchor institutions like the University of Birmingham and Jaguar Land Rover.

Category:Directly elected mayors in England Category:West Midlands Combined Authority Category:Local government in the West Midlands (county)