What advice would you give an elected mayor? We asked the experts:
“You have clout in central government, carrying more votes with you than any MP. Use that power to ensure Whitehall provides the freedoms and powers you need to improve your city. The Localism Bill allows the Secretary of State to “transfer to the elected mayors any function of any public body.” Powers over transport, revenue raising, big infrastructure, skills, regeneration, and housing are yours for the taking.”
Tom Gash, Institute for Government
“Doors will open to you across the city. You may not have formal powers or budgetary control over every policy area but you can use your soft power to ensure that the key organisations and interests in the city are co-ordinating their efforts and contributing to achieving the goals you set out in your manifesto. Your city will be most successful when the activities of business, the voluntary sector, and the different government agencies are working in concert.”
Sam Sims, Institute for Government
'Concentrate on 3 or 4 big reform priorities at most - crises and events will take care of the rest of your time, and if you don't prioritise, you will simply be swept up in the daily flow. Education, particularly sorting out failing schools, should be one of those priorities. Education is your biggest responsibility, and it needs radical improvement in all the cities.'
Lord Andrew Adonis
“Mayors need find ways to work with people who are angry and oppositional in the face of recession and spending cuts. Protestors are the local activists that councils need to collaborate with in tough times. It’s important to build on communities’ assets, whether that's strong social networks or high quality public services.”
Nicola Bacon, Young Foundation
“Mayors need to make the economy their number one priority and build strong collaborative relationships with their neighbours. This will lay the ground work for introducing ‘metro mayors’ during the next electoral cycle. A city’s economy does not stop at the local authority boundary and neither should the big decisions about housing, planning and transport, which are so crucial for economic growth.”
Andrew Carter, Centre for Cities
“Get out of the council building as much as possible. Take the conversation to the people by holding a monthly 'mayors forum' with residents and local groups.Engage with people on their own terms to reinvigorate local democracy.”
Guy Lodge, Institute for Public Policy research
“Be bold with your vision for your city. Want to encourage high density, high quality housing for middle income earners? Want to take personal charge of an expanded affordable housing programme? Want to leave a legacy of beautiful new/regenerated public spaces? Be upfront in your manifesto, argue your case, and use your mandate to smash central or local barriers to make it happen.”
Alex Thomson, Localis
“Mayors will offer cities a chance to raise their profile, to attract additional investment and to provide a stronger focus for civil identity. While not the solution to all problems, mayors have many advantages, the most important of which is that they will be able to demand more powers from Whitehall. With a mayor in office, it will be far harder to argue that central government knows best for, say, Birmingham. Financial autonomy should be another key goal for any new mayors elected in November this year”.
Tony Travers, LSE