Chamber releases key attributes for City Region Mayor

3rd October 2016

The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has released today (Monday 3 October) a list of 'attributes, powers and responsibilities' it believes the newly elected Sheffield City Region Mayor should possess in order to successfully lead the region forward.

As a requirement of the Devolution Deal, in May 2017 the region will vote for a Mayor, who will be responsible for making decisions that help to grow the economy and create jobs. After consulting with members, the Chamber has put together the six key qualities for the Mayor, who will possess new powers and funding to improve infrastructure, transport, skills, housing and other drivers of business growth. The key attributes are: 1. Proven track record in building a commercially, economically viable and sustainable economy. 2. Independent and non-parochial. 3. A mayor with charisma and presence who is able to -sell the region to the rest of the world. 4. Ability to mould Local Authorities Leaders and Chief Executives into a single cohesive body working for the greater good of the region. 5. The mayor has to be strategic but then be capable of ensuring a strategy is implemented. 6. 'New perspective and vision not somebody who is a -safe pair of hands because they know how to -play the game. Jill Thomas, president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: -We are at an interesting stage in developing a country for the future. The UK is far too centralised and Westminster and Whitehall needs to delegate more power and resources to the regions through a much more ambitious devolution programme. -Initiatives like the Northern Powerhouse give the Sheffield City Region the opportunity to develop economic entities that can complement London and rival any city or region in the world but they need a new kind of politics nationally and locally. Scotland, Wales and Ireland have strong independent voices and so should we, up to and including our own Barnett Formula. The Chamber believes that if the government and Combined Authority get this right then the Mayor can be a great asset to the region, cutting across authority boundaries and being a figurehead at a local, national and international scale. However, the Chamber also states that devolved money needs to be spent more effectively and that requires strong team working in the region. The mayor is critical to that, both within the Combined Authority and between the Combined Authority and the Local Enterprise Partnership. Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: -What we cannot avoid is that the Mayor is required because of the Devolution Deal, and this is an economic deal and so the mayor has to drive improvements in the economy. So does the mayor cut across the authority of the Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership? Businesses will hope not but time will tell. -The biggest issue is whether the right person will be allowed to do the job because they will not be restricted by traditional areas of authority and -legal responsibilities of local authorities. -If the system is not loosened enough for the mayor to make a difference and if enough powers and resources are not devolved, then this will not work properly. Politically we may be able to justify it but the people and businesses of this region deserve more than that. It's about jobs, wealth, health after all. See City Region Mayor Manifesto for the full and detailed list of attributes.

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