What Does the North East Mayor Actually Do With £4.2 Billion?

When voters across Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, Northumberland, County Durham, North Tyneside and South Tyneside went to the polls in May 2024, they elected a politician to one of the most powerful regional roles ever created in the North East.

Yet despite the significance of the position, many residents still remain unsure what the North East Mayor actually does, how much power the role holds or why it was created in the first place.

The office of the North East Mayor was established as part of a major devolution agreement between local authorities and central government. Supporters describe it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring decision-making closer to local communities. Critics have questioned whether the role adds another layer of politics to an already complex system.

What is clear is that the mayor now oversees billions of pounds in regional investment and has significant influence over transport, housing, skills, economic growth and regeneration across a region of almost two million people.

Why Was the North East Mayor Created?

The position exists because of a process known as devolution.

For decades, many decisions affecting the North East were made in Westminster. Local leaders repeatedly argued that regions should have greater control over funding, infrastructure and economic development rather than relying on decisions made in London.

The Government's wider devolution agenda aimed to transfer certain powers and funding from Whitehall to regional authorities.

In December 2022, the Government announced a landmark devolution agreement for the North East worth around £4.2 billion over 30 years. The deal required the creation of a directly elected mayor who would lead a new regional authority.

The North East Mayoral Combined Authority officially came into existence in May 2024, bringing together seven local authority areas under a single regional structure.

How Was the Mayor Elected?

The first North East mayoral election took place on May 2, 2024.

The election covered Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham.

Labour candidate Kim McGuinness won the election with more than 185,000 votes, securing around 41 per cent of the vote share. Independent candidate Jamie Driscoll finished second. Turnout was approximately 31 per cent.

Unlike previous mayoral elections which used supplementary voting systems, the North East election was conducted using first-past-the-post voting, meaning the candidate with the most votes won outright.

The mayor serves a four-year term and can stand for re-election.

What Does the North East Mayor Actually Control?

The simplest way to understand the role is to think of the mayor as a regional leader responsible for coordinating major economic and strategic decisions.

The mayor does not replace local councils. Newcastle City Council, Sunderland City Council and the region's other authorities continue to run local services such as bin collections, planning decisions, social care and education provision.

Instead, the mayor oversees issues that affect the wider region.

These include transport, housing, regeneration, adult education funding, skills programmes, investment projects and economic growth initiatives.

The mayor also chairs the North East Mayoral Combined Authority, which brings together leaders from the seven participating councils.

Billions of Pounds Are Now Controlled Regionally.

One of the main reasons the role was created was access to long-term funding.

The North East secured an investment package worth approximately £4.2 billion spread across three decades.

This includes an investment fund providing around £48 million annually for 30 years to support regional projects.

Additional funding agreements announced since then have brought further investment into the region.

A deeper devolution agreement unveiled in 2024 included an additional £100 million package alongside further powers over regeneration, transport and economic development.

The scale of funding involved is one reason why the mayoral role is viewed as so significant.

Transport Is One of the Mayor's Biggest Responsibilities.

Transport remains one of the most visible areas of mayoral influence.

The mayor has powers relating to regional transport planning, investment priorities and future transport development.

This includes involvement in Tyne and Wear Metro funding, bus services, rail improvements and wider transport infrastructure projects.

The devolution settlement has already secured more than £58 million for Metro maintenance and renewal programmes.

Given the ongoing concerns around transport reliability across the North East, many residents are likely to judge the mayor's success partly on whether transport services improve.

Housing and Regeneration Powers Could Shape Newcastle's Future.

Another major responsibility involves housing and regeneration.

The mayor has powers to support housing development, regeneration schemes and strategic planning initiatives designed to stimulate economic growth.

This could influence how areas of Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and other parts of the region develop over the coming decades.

The authority also has the ability to establish mayoral development areas and support large-scale investment projects.

Supporters argue this allows the region to take a more coordinated approach to growth rather than relying solely on individual councils acting independently.

Skills, Jobs and Economic Growth Form a Major Part of the Role.

The mayor also has responsibility for adult education budgets and skills funding.

This means influencing training programmes designed to improve employment opportunities and address skills shortages across the North East.

One of the long-standing economic challenges facing the region has been creating higher-paid jobs while retaining talented graduates and skilled workers.

The devolution agreements specifically focus on improving regional productivity, supporting key industries and attracting investment.

The mayor is expected to play a leading role in promoting the North East nationally and internationally as a destination for investment.

Why Some People Support the Role.

Supporters argue that the mayor gives the North East a stronger voice when competing with other regions.

Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and other mayor-led regions have secured significant investment through similar arrangements.

Advocates believe having a single elected figure representing almost two million people helps the region negotiate more effectively with central government.

Many business organisations have also welcomed the model, arguing that long-term funding and regional leadership provide greater certainty for investors.

Why Critics Remain Sceptical.

Not everyone supports the mayoral system.

Critics have questioned whether creating a new political office adds unnecessary bureaucracy.

Others argue that local councils already understand their communities and should retain greater control over decision-making.

Concerns have also been raised about public awareness.

Despite the scale of the powers involved, turnout in the first election was only around 31 per cent, meaning many residents did not participate.

Some critics believe more work is needed to explain what the mayor does and how decisions affect local communities.

The Role Could Become Even More Powerful.

Perhaps the most important point is that the mayor's powers may continue to expand.

Other combined authorities across England have gradually secured additional responsibilities after demonstrating successful delivery of existing programmes.

The Government's deeper devolution agreements suggest the North East could receive further powers in future if current arrangements prove effective.

That means the office created in 2024 may eventually become even more influential than it is today.

Why The Mayor Matters to Newcastle and the North East.

For many residents, the North East Mayor may still feel like a relatively new and unfamiliar political position.

Yet the reality is that decisions made by the mayor and the combined authority could influence transport networks, housing developments, job opportunities, skills funding and economic growth across the region for years to come.

Whether supporters see the role as a powerful opportunity or critics view it with caution, there is little doubt that the position now sits at the centre of some of the biggest decisions affecting Newcastle and the wider North East.

With billions of pounds in funding attached and increasing political attention focused on regional devolution, the North East Mayor's influence is likely to remain one of the most important stories in local politics for years ahead.