Panel recommends South Yorkshire mayor should be paid £79,000 - but he won't be taking it

Mayor Jarvis, who has not received a salary for his SCR mayoral work due to the incomplete devolution deal, should be paid £79,000 a year according to the Independent Remuneration Panel, led by an expert on local government remunerations.

But in a statement, Mayor Jarvis said he would not take the salary and instead give it to community charities helping those less fortunate.

Members of the Mayoral Combined Authority, chiefly the leaders of South Yorkshire’s councils, are expected to finalise the proposal at a meeting next week.

Mr Jarvis has juggled his other job as MP for Barnsley Central since election as mayor in 2018.

He has said previously he will ‘have to choose’ between the two jobs when mayoral re-election comes around in 2022 or possibly sooner. It’s understood Mr Jarvis is keen to continue in the mayoral role during the pandemic crisis.

The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) said they looked at the pay of metro mayors across England and found the median salary was that of £75,000.

The highest paid metro mayor is Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester at £110,000 a year while Ben Houchen in Tees Valley is paid £35,000.

Mayor Jarvis said: “It is my great privilege to serve the people of South Yorkshire as Mayor and I have done so unpaid since I was elected in 2018.

“During that time, I have worked relentlessly to complete the devolution deal, secure significant investment for our people, businesses and places and represent our region through the most challenging of circumstances.

“If the MCA approves the Independent Panel’s recommendation, I will continue to serve unpaid. When our people and businesses are facing an incredibly challenging time, this is undoubtedly the right thing to do.

“I will use the salary to support those organisations who have helped hold our communities together during the pandemic, and those that make a valuable contribution to our lives in South Yorkshire.

“I will continue to serve as an MP, which allows me to represent South Yorkshire’s interests in Parliament, directly to Government Ministers. The arrangement has never prevented me from doing both roles effectively. I care deeply about South Yorkshire and I will continue to work tirelessly to build a stronger, greener, fairer future for our region.”

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