The Independent Remuneration Panel* of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, or GMCA, has recommended an 'allowance' for the future Greater Manchester Mayor of £110,000, which is set to be rubber stamped today.
Back in June 2015, a different panel recommended a remuneration of £56,000 for the Interim Mayor, Tony Lloyd. But he was already getting £100,000 as the Police and Crime Commissioner so he never took it.
The Independent Panel has come up with a figure that is far in excess of any city region elected Mayor outside of London, which ranges from £35,000 for the Tees Valley, to £85,000 for the Liverpool City Region.
The panel justifies its decision by arguing amongst other things that the GM Mayor allowance is not pensionable and thus represents a saving on the current GM Police Commissioner's arrangements; and that the amount "will be less than the current cost of governance arrangements even taking into account the appointments of Deputy Mayors for Policing and the GMCA, and a Fire Committee".
The Panel adds that the £110,000 "is a maximum in that the GMCA cannot pay more than the recommended remuneration but can if it wishes pay less". It recommends a further review in 2020.
Back in January, the Salford Star reported that the GMCA had budgeted £242,000 for 2017-18 to pay for the Mayor and his/her staff, described as a "new pressure" on available resources.
The GMCA also stated that the Greater Manchester Mayor Election alone had already cost £450,000 in the 2016-17 financial year and that it was budgeting for another £3.55million in 2017-18. It described the funding as a "significant cost burden" (see previous Salford Star article click here).
Meanwhile, the Salford Star asked the main GM Mayor candidates to state who was bankrolling them and with how much money and in-kind donations. None would put a figure on it...
A spokesperson for the Conservative Party candidate, Sean Anstee, responded... "All donations to Sean's campaign have been declared in the appropriate manner, and the donations used to fund his campaign will be recorded in his return of election expenses".
LibDem candidate, Jane Brophy, didn't respond. Neither did UKIP candidate, Shneur Odze.
The Green Party did respond... "Will Patterson's campaign funding, like all Green Party funding, has been predominantly through Green Party members via Crowdfunder" stated his spokesperson "The Green Party has a strict policy on receiving and accepting donations from businesses and third parties, and it is standard practice for us to decline donations from unethical sources."
The press aide for Labour Party candidate, Andy Burnham, responded that she would "look into it", while sending a press release on cycling. But never got back.
As Andy Burnham is currently an MP, he has had to declare any donations. While there's nothing particularly dodgy (we don't think!) about any of his backers, for transparency we print his declarations below...
LionLike Management Ltd - £10,000 gives its principal activity as 'floor and wall covering' with one director, JS Lewis. But the group runs laboratories and offices from its base at the Heath Technical Park in Runcorn.
Gabriel Scally - £6,000 currently Vice Chair of the Soil Association, he was previously part of the Labour Party's Shadow Health Team
Quatro Public Relations Ltd - £12,370.24 - ten week secondment of staff for the campaign. Quatro provides "public relations and political communications for the built environment. We specialise in planning and property, energy and luxury destinations". Also does PR for the Northern Powerhouse.
Dr Kailash Chand Malhotra - £2,500 pro-NHS campaigner and former deputy chair of BMA council.
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians - £2,000
The election for Greater Manchester Mayor is on 4th May
* The Independent Panel consisted of Dr Declan Hall, a 'consultant who
specialises in Members Allowances and support', Kevin Lucas, regional Manager of UNISON North West and Clive Memmott, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
For a full list of candidates for the Greater Manchester Mayor, a link to their media sites and the results of the Salford Star poll on Salford precinct click here
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