Yesterday (Thurs 2nd May) the electorate went to the polls to appoint the political figurehead for York and North Yorkshire to bring more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in funding to the region.
The vote is a hugely significant moment for a long-awaited devolution deal for the region, and the mayor will oversee the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which launched on February 1, to introduce benefits ranging from new and better-paid jobs and improved skills and training to more affordable housing.
A total of six candidates stood for election, and the results were:
- Cunliffe-Lister, Felicity Clare, Liberal Democrats – 30,867 votes.
- Duncan, Keane Charles, The Conservative Party – 51,967 votes.
- Foster, Kevin, The Green Party – 15,188 votes.
- Haslam, Paul, Independent – 12,370 votes.
- Skaith, David, The Labour and Co-operative Party – 66,761 votes.
- Tordoff, Keith Graham, Independent – 13,250 votes.
The turnout for the election was 29.89 per cent from the 640,012 people who are registered to vote in York and North Yorkshire.
The result was declared by North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, who was the combined authority’s returning officer as well as the local returning officer for North Yorkshire for the election.
David Skaith, who will serve a four-year term, will develop close links with the Government to secure more funding and decision-making powers as the devolution deal evolves. The deal includes an investment fund totalling £540 million over a 30-year term, which provides flexibility to target money to specific schemes on a more local level.
David will continue work that is already under way on projects including £12.7 million to deliver 700 new homes on brownfield sites and a further £10 million to support the transition to net zero, unlocking economic opportunity, empowering business growth and creating new and better paid jobs.
David will also take on the responsibilities of the police, fire and crime commissioner for York and North Yorkshire. The commissioner is responsible for holding the chief constable as well as the chief fire officer to account and ensuring their services are efficient and effective.
The commissioner sets policing and crime priorities and oversees the police budget. The commissioner also supports community safety activities and provides victims of crime with a range of services, as well as setting priorities in the fire and rescue plan and overseeing the brigade’s budget. More information is available at www.northyorks.gov.uk/mayoralelection and at www.york.gov.uk/elections online.