Think tank urges new mayors to make full use of powers

Mayors due to be elected next month to lead six new combined authorities could transform these areas if they make imaginative use of their powers, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has said.

The IPPR, which has long supported the concept of elected mayors, said incoming mayors should cut across local and national silos to deliver against clear objectives, raise finance to invest, and gather intelligence in order to enable innovation.

Mayors are due to be elected in May in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Tees Valley, Liverpool City Region, Cambridgeshire/ Peterborough and West of England, the latter an area based around Bristol.

The IPPR said its evidence base showed mayors should deliver inclusive growth by using their transport policy to prioritise poor neighbourhoods, establishing development corporations and championing the living wage and higher employment standards.

They could improve infrastructure by integrating land use planning and working with central government on housing investment and seek to embed health in all public policy.

The IPPR also urged mayors to set up companies to pilot ‘invest-to-save’ models in employment support, and to collaborate with councils to tackle homelessness.

Mark Smulian