South Yorkshire mayor gets big pay rise for police responsibility

By Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 4th Jun 2024, 16:15 BST
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The mayor of South Yorkshire will get a £28,000 pay rise to £107,000 following his re-election in May with the additional role of regional police and crime commissioner.

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority today (June 4) approved the pay rise for mayor Oliver Coppard at a meeting in Sheffield. It was following the recommendation of a three-person independent remuneration panel (IRP) appointed by the combined authority, which brings together the mayor with the four South Yorkshire councils.

The panel members were chair Dr Declan Hall, Rachel Hannan and Lisa Pogson. They met three times and received factual briefings and data and interviewed the mayor and one of the council leaders.

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The mayor stepped out of the room for discussion of the issue, with the 35 per cent rise passed without any questions or comments by members.

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard at an event setting out his vision for the next four years on May 7. Photo: Roland Sebestyen, LDRSSouth Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard at an event setting out his vision for the next four years on May 7. Photo: Roland Sebestyen, LDRS
South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard at an event setting out his vision for the next four years on May 7. Photo: Roland Sebestyen, LDRS

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The election of the mayor took place two years early on May 2 because of the government’s decision to combine the police and crime commissioner with the role.

A report to the authority said: “This is a significant additional responsibility for the SYMCA mayor, with an additional annual budget for policing of about £350 million which in the main will go direct to the police for the operation of services.”

Recognition

It added: “The key point for the IRP is that the mayor will now be held directly accountable for policing and crime and victim support in South Yorkshire with all the public scrutiny that entails. This is a big step up in powers and responsibilities for the mayor that the IRP has concluded needs a degree of recognition in the mayor’s remuneration.”

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Earlier in the meeting, mayor Coppard said that he was proud to have been supported by 51 per cent of the electorate. He said his priorities are to deliver the main commitments of his manifesto, including work on bus franchising and extending the tram network and delivering an investment zone and a bigger and better local economy.

On crime, his manifesto pledges were:

  • Setting up a community confidence board for victims of crime;
  • Using money confiscated from criminals to clean up streets and keep public spaces safe;
  • Working on a police and crime plan;
  • Early intervention to prevent knife crime and take a zero-tolerance approach;
  • Work on cutting road deaths and serious injuries.
Related topics:South YorkshireSheffield