Central government should cover over-budget mayoral elections costs, says combined authority

A budget update considered by the Combined Authority during a meeting on Wednesday (17 September) revealed that the Mayoral elections in May this year are now expected to cost £2.3m, compared to the approved budget of £1.7m.

The report partly blamed postal costs for the increase.

Mayor Jenkyns, the Reform UK candidate who took office following the May election this year, said she supports plans to write to the Government to ask it to foot the bill for the costs.

Conservative councillor, Rob Waltham, echoed her concerns on the costs, noting that it "seems perverse that the Government devolved these powers to us and it is pushing us over budget".

"It seems perverse to me that we end up in a situation where we're having to spend 5% of our total monies on an election fund that we're not delivering any outcomes, other than to give us a mandate," he added.

Cllr Waltham, who leads North Lincolnshire Council, put forward an amendment to write to Whitehall to ask that the Government provide support for the election costs.

His amendment was carried.

Adam Carey