Labour’s David Skaith became one of the region’s most influential and powerful politicians when he was elected on May 3 last year.
With wide-ranging powers on issues such as regional transport and housing as well as taking on powers for the police, fire and crime, Mr Skaith has a big budget to go with his big responsibility and busy diary.
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He is responsible for a Mayoral Investment Fund worth £540 million over the next 30 years –among other things.
In addition there’s £12.7 million for housing, to deliver new homes on brownfield sites, and a further £7 million to support the transition to net zero.
Just days after being elected Mr Skaith started work throwing himself into the newly created role.
In 39-year-old Mr Skaith’s case, the ‘metro mayor’ title is something of a misnomer. At the time of his election, as the only one of the country’s 12 elected mayors who didn’t have a city region, Mr Skaith says it was immediately apparent that his patch presented a unique set of challenges.
“We were starting from scratch, and the geography has presented its difficulties,” said Mr Skaith.
“With such a large region it’s been about engaging with the people in every community – as well as towns and cities, we have two national parks and the coastal element – you know it’s going to be difficult when you are talking about things like housing and transport.”
Back in February he launched the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, the first of four schemes to launch under the £27million Mayoral Challenge Fund.
Mr Skaith has a background in retail, he owns Winstons of York clothing shop and was previously chair of York High Street Forum as well as being a secretary of Indie York.
“Investing money into high streets is a big priority for me.
“People say high streets are dying, but I don’t believe that for a second,” said Mr Skaith.
“We have had our first tranche of applications come in with 39 projects so far.
“The speed of doing things is always a challenge, but to get that up and running inside a year is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“We’re looking at a broad geographic spread right across the region. It’s about getting into the places that wouldn’t normally get that investment.
“Over the next three years there will be another couple of rounds for people to apply for with the next one coming live around September time.”
As Mayor, Mr Skaith presides over the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority made up of delegates from both City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council and he says he has formed strong relationships with his fellow mayors across the region.
“There has been more engagement with them than I thought there would be as everyone is incredibly busy,” he said.
“We meet up as a group every two weeks round the table and the support from my two fellow Yorkshire mayors Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire has been fantastic I think that support and camaraderie has been great.”
He says they are protecting cheaper fares for NHS staff at York Hospital and £1 fares for under 19s across the regions and providing extra support for rural services like the Moorsbus and Dalesbus.
Undoubtedly the worst part of the job so far, Mr Skaith said, was the death of PC Rosie Prior from Knaresborough, who was killed after being hit by a lorry near Bagby on January 11.
“Her death was just awful, and it was a huge honour to be invited to her funeral at such an incredibly sad time.
“I have an older brother who is a police officer and as mayor I oversee the police and fire service. Losing someone who has put themselves in danger to help others like that is such a huge tragedy.”
Looking ahead to what the next 12 months has in store, Mr Skaith said he is excited about the potential for delivering more housing.
“We have already delivered money for about 1,100 homes with an emphasis on affordability.
“I will work to ensure that in meeting our own significant need for affordable homes, we make a significant contribution to national housing targets.”
It’s safe to say that whatever the year ahead holds there’ll be no slowing down.
