Delay in appointing Andy Burnham-style mayor in Cheshire and Warrington

The mayor will not take over next year

A powerful ‘metro-style’ mayor will not take the reins in Cheshire and Warrington next year as originally planned - after local council leaders urged the Government to delay a vote. Devolution plans are now in full swing which would see Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington councils become part of a new devolved combined authority.

The move still needs to be rubber-stamped by the Government and by each council. But if approved they would become part of a new combined authority local government structure – similar to the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester – with more funding and decision-making relinquished to it by Westminster.

The figurehead would be an elected mayor – similar to the posts held by Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham respectively – who would represent the new Cheshire and Warrington area. The elected mayor would have broad powers, unlike current council mayors who are largely ceremonial.

Residents of each borough would have to vote for their preferred choice and that election was due to take place in May next year. But the three councils have written to the Government asking for that vote to be pushed back by a year.

In a joint statement, Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, leader and deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman, and Cllr Hans Mundry, leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “Moving the election would give us more time to put in place the right foundations and approach to move forward with a devolution agreement with an elected mayor.”

They added: “While we have always maintained that we want to release the potential benefits of devolution as early as possible, we have heard what people have said and recognise that by holding the mayoral election in May 2027 – at the same time as a number of local elections taking place across the area – we can reduce costs and potentially increase the number of people who will turn out to vote and have their voice heard.”

If the devolution plan moves ahead – with councils set to vote on the issue in September – each member council would still remain distinct, with their own finances and councillors elected by their own residents, making their own decisions on things like local planning matters and waste policy.

But a combined authority would – in theory – give the three areas more bargaining power at the top tables of Government and business, and the new mayor would have considerable influence on things like strategic transport matters, training and employment.

Critics of combined authorities claim they add an unnecessary additional layer to local government and that they can be dominated by large towns and cities.

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