PART 3Election of Mayor
Election of Mayor
5.—(1) There is to be a mayor for the Area.
(2) The first election for the return of a mayor for the Area is to take place on 2nd May 2024.
(3) Subsequent elections for the return of a mayor for the Area are to take place—
(a)on the ordinary day of election in 2028, and
(b)in every fourth year thereafter on the same day as the ordinary day of election.
(4) The term of office of the mayor returned at an election in 2024 for the return of a mayor for the Area—
(a)begins with 7th May 2024, and
(b)ends with the third day after the day of the poll at the next election for the return of a mayor for the Area.
(5) The term of office of the Mayor returned in each subsequent fourth year—
(a)begins with the fourth day after the day of the poll at the election for the return of the Mayor for the Area; and
(b)ends with the third day after the day of the poll at the next election for the return of the Mayor for the Area.
Political adviser
6.—(1) The Mayor may appoint one person as the Mayor’s political adviser.
(2) Any appointment under paragraph (1) is an appointment as an employee of the Combined County Authority.
(3) No appointment under paragraph (1) may extend beyond—
(a)the term of office for which the Mayor who made the appointment was elected; or
(b)where the Mayor who made the appointment ceases to be the Mayor before the end of the term of office for which the Mayor was elected, the date on which the Mayor ceases to hold that office.
(4) A person appointed under paragraph (1) is to be regarded for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1989 Act (political restriction of officers and staff) as holding a politically restricted post under a local authority.
(5) Section 9(1), (8), (9) and (11) of the 1989 Act (assistants for political groups)(), apply in relation to an appointment under paragraph (1) as if—
(a)any appointment to that post were the appointment of a person in pursuance of that section; and
(b)the Combined County Authority were a relevant authority for the purposes of that section.
(6) Subsection (3) of section 9 of the 1989 Act applies in relation to an appointment under paragraph (1) as if the words from “and that the appointment terminates” to the end of that subsection were omitted.