Tees Valley Gets Opportunity To Vote For a New Mayor

Press Release that the Department for Communities and Local Government have issued.

On 4 May there will be a huge shift in the way the Tees Valley is run, Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy said on a visit to the Tees Valley Combined Authority today.

Local people across the Tees Valley will have the power to vote for a brand new Tees Valley Mayor to take control of decisions that were previously made in Westminster and Whitehall.

Central government is handing over power to create jobs, improve skill levels, build homes and improve transport to the Tees Valley Mayor who, like the Mayor of London, will be able to represent the region on an international stage.

Whilst meeting with local council leaders to discuss their progress so far and ambitions for the future, the Minister spoke about how the new Tees Valley Mayor will have the power to scale up and expand initiatives.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy said:

“This Government is handing over radical powers to a new Mayor to create jobs, improve skills and build homes in the Tees Valley.

“But on 4 May people in the Tees Valley aren’t just voting for another politician. They’re voting to take control of decisions that matter to them locally, with a Combined Authority Mayor accountable to local people.”

David Budd, Chair Of Tees Valley Combined Authority said:

“The Tees Valley has the opportunity to take control of its destiny with the election of the new Tees Valley Mayor, ensuring decisions are made here rather than 250 miles away.

“Our area will have powers to bring sustained prosperity to our area – including opportunities for young people, transport, and new jobs and investment. It is vital that everyone has a say in this important decision and I would encourage people to ensure they are registered to vote by the 13th April, find out who the candidates are, and be sure their voice is heard on 4 May.”

Devolution spreads to the Tees Valley

Devolution deals are putting power in the hands of local people. They help communities take control of decisions that matter to them, with Combined Authority Mayors who will be accountable to the people they serve.

So far the Government has agreed ground-breaking devolution deals across the country and on 4 May there will be elections for new Mayors in place in some of England’s proudest regions: Tees Valley, Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, West of England and West Midlands .

Each Mayor will:

• have control over new long-term budgets from central government;
• exercise powers to control local roads, transport investment, strategic planning, improve skills and build new homes;
• lobby on behalf of their area, on the issues that matter to local people not only in Westminster, but on the world stage;
• work with local business leaders to achieve what’s best for local jobs and the economy; and
• capitalise on local strengths and assets like our universities, scientific research and innovation.

This new devolution deal with the Tees Valley was agreed with Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees councils in October 2015. The new Mayor for the Tees Valley will have a range of powers, including:

• control over a new investment fund of £15 million a year over the next 30 years;
• a devolved transport budget and transport powers to help provide a more modern, better-connected network; and
• new powers over skills and in particular responsibility for the adult education budget in the region.