The election to choose the first ever mayor of York and North Yorkshire is set to cost taxpayers £2.2m, according to a report.
Mayoral election to cost more than £2 million The election to choose the first ever mayor of York and North Yorkshire is set to cost taxpayers £2.2m, according to a report. Voters across the region will go to the polls on May 2 to choose who will lead a new combined authority, with the mayor also taking over the powers of current Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe. Officers at North Yorkshire Council have drawn up a report that details the new mayor’s budget in their first year, which confirms they will receive £18m from the government’s mayoral investment fund. This is the sum the mayor is set to receive every year to invest into local priorities such as transport infrastructure or housing schemes. The budget for 2024/25 is spread across 15 months to help prepare for the formation of the new authority and £6m has already been allocated towards staff and election costs as well as other overheads. Over the course of the whole year, a budget of £4.5m will be spent on staff salaries. City of York and North Yorkshire councillors who sit on a committee that is overseeing the creation of the combined authority are set to approve the budget at a meeting on Monday. Details of the budget are available to read here. Who is standing to be mayor? Pateley Bridge man and former police officer Keith Tordoff will stand as an independent after previously announcing he would run for the Yorkshire Party. The Green Party has chosen former soldier Kevin Foster as its candidate. The Conservative Party has picked Malton councillor and journalist Keane Duncan, who is currently in charge of transport on North Yorkshire Council. Labour has chosen local business owner and chair of the York High Street Forum David Skaith. The Liberal Democrats has not yet decided who its candidate will be. By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Harrogate Town sign Burnley youngster on loan
Harrogate drivers urged to submit footage of dangerous driving
Popular Dog Day returns to Himalayan Garden near Ripon
New Reformer Pilates studio to open in Harrogate
Work begins on Harrogate and York RSPCA's £2m animal home
Free bike repair event returns to Valley Gardens this weekend
Harrogate trains disrupted following death on railway
Businesses urged to sign up for Harrogate's Restaurant Week
Ripon MP warns over rise in unemployment-related benefits
New children's play area opens at Otley Garden Centre
Harrogate Town sign Middlesbrough midfielder on season-long loan
Harrogate adult learners prove it's never too late to achieve GCSE success
Ashville pupils celebrate GCSE success as new Sixth Form awaits
Police warning after counterfeit cash scam in Knaresborough
Outstanding GCSE results at one of Yorkshire's only all-girls schools
Volunteers transform children's play area at Harrogate hospital
Ripon market days see 31% increase in footfall
Harrogate pupils achieve best top-grade GCSE results in four years
Harrogate High head 'enormously proud' of school's GCSE results
Three new independent businesses join Halls of Ripon
