David Skaith has become the first York and North Yorkshire Mayor with 66,761 votes, it has been confirmed.

Thursday was the first time voters in York and North Yorkshire voted for a regional mayor, with Mr Skaith securing about a third of the vote.

The vote will be a major moment for a long-awaited devolution deal for the region, and the mayor will oversee the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which launched on February 1, to introduce benefits ranging from new and better-paid jobs and improved skills and training to more affordable housing.

A total of six candidates stood for election, and the results were:

  • Cunliffe-Lister, Felicity Clare, Liberal Democrats - 30,867 votes.
  • Duncan, Keane Charles, The Conservative Party - 51,967 votes.
  • Foster, Kevin, The Green Party - 15,188 votes.
  • Haslam, Paul, Independent - 12,370 votes.
  • Skaith, David, The Labour and Co-operative Party - 66,761 votes.
  • Tordoff, Keith Graham, Independent - 13,250 votes.

The turnout for the election was 29.89 per cent from the 640,012 people who are registered to vote in York and North Yorkshire.

The result was declared by North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, who was the combined authority’s returning officer as well as the local returning officer for North Yorkshire for the election.

North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council ran the election in the two local authority areas.

City of York Council’s chief operating officer, Ian Floyd, was the local returning officer for the city.

The mayor, who will start in the role on Tuesday next week (May 7) and will serve a four-year term, will develop close links with the Government to secure more funding and decision-making powers as the devolution deal evolves.

The deal includes an investment fund totalling £540 million over a 30-year term, which provides flexibility to target money to specific schemes on a more local level.

The mayor will continue work that is already underway on projects including £12.7 million to deliver 700 new homes on brownfield sites and a further £10 million to support the transition to net zero, unlocking economic opportunity, empowering business growth and creating new and better-paid jobs.

The mayor will also take on the responsibilities of the police, fire and crime commissioner for York and North Yorkshire. The commissioner is responsible for holding the chief constable as well as the chief fire officer to account and ensuring their services are efficient and effective.

The commissioner sets policing and crime priorities and oversees the police budget. The commissioner also supports community safety activities and provides victims of crime with a range of services, as well as setting priorities in the fire and rescue plan and overseeing the brigade’s budget.

The new Mayor will have a salary of £81,300 and will serve an initial four-year term.

On Thursday (May 2), the electorate voted in their thousands at 668 polling stations across the region to vote for the first regional mayor.

For North Yorkshire, nearly 500 staff worked across four count locations, including Northallerton, and Harrogate, two counts in Scarborough, and one in York.

Results from the Northallerton, York and the two Scarborough counts then fed into the Harrogate count, where the final announcement was made at about 2.30pm.

What difference will it make?

The York and North Yorkshire Mayor will lead investment of at least £540 million to be spent over the next 30 years. Mayors can attract more investment into the region to improve things that matter to our businesses and communities.

The York and North Yorkshire Mayor will take on the role and responsibilities of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

What is the role of the Mayor?

The Mayor chairs the Combined Authority. Mayors work alongside local leaders to create and deliver on shared, long-term visions for the region they serve.

They will serve a four-year term, at which point they can choose to stand for re-election.

What are the powers and responsibilities of the Mayor?

  • Responsible for 30-year Mayoral Investment Fund.
  • Full devolution of the Adult Education Budget.
  • Powers to improve the supply and quality of housing and secure the development of land or infrastructure.
  • Powers and funds to improve transport through a consolidated, devolved, multi-year transport settlement.
  • Responsibilities for community safety and the powers to appoint a Deputy Mayor to carry out the duties currently held by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

What budget will the Mayor have and where does the money come from?

A Mayoral Investment Fund is worth £540 million over 30 years.

From launch to March 2025, the new Combined Authority will be in receipt of more than £56m of funds to invest for the benefit of communities. An adult education budget will also be devolved to York and North Yorkshire.

From May 2024, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s functions will join the Combined Authority, which includes funding from the existing precept within council tax.