What's in the in-tray of the new Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire?

POLICY PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD

- By IVAN MORRIS POXTON

REFORM UK’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns has been elected the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, but what will be in her in-tray?

The former Conservative MP and ex-Lincolnshire County councillor swept the board across all but one of the nine council area counts in the county. It was a commanding win.

Reform UK also dominated Lincolnshire County Council elections. But attention will soon turn to the policy priorities of, and challenges ahead for, Dame Andrea as Mayor.

Below is a rundown of what we can expect to be in the mayoral in-tray over the coming months.

First CCA meeting and building a relationship with council leaders

The first meeting of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) post-mayoral election is scheduled for May 19, the venue to be confirmed.

The way the county's devolution deal is set up, the new Mayor will need to build bridges and have a working relationship with the nominated two members each from North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council.

These include the council leader of each. Most of what the Mayor can do requires a majority of members of the GLCCA to be on board too, or support from members of the three lead councils.

Reform UK has no councillors in North Lincolnshire and only one currently in North East Lincolnshire, and these councils are led by the Conservatives.

Even though Reform took overall control of Lincolnshire County Council, Dame Andrea as Mayor will need to be skilled at collegiate working with Conservative counterparts in northern Lincolnshire.

Training and apprenticeships