The future mayor of Hampshire and the Solent could receive a £105,000-a-year allowance under proposals going before regional leaders.
An independent remuneration panel has recommended the figure after comparing the future mayor’s responsibilities with similar roles elsewhere, the police and crime commissioner and MPs.
A role covering transport, housing and policing
The devolved authority mayor will oversee an area of around two million residents and hold powers covering transport, adult skills, housing, strategic planning, economic development and public safety.
The role is also expected to incorporate responsibility for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority and the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The panel said,
“Remuneration should not be an incentive for service.
“Nor should lack of remuneration be a barrier.”
It added that allowances should provide “reasonable compensation” for expenses and time committed to a role, rather than payment for the work undertaken.
How the figure compares with MPs and the police commissioner
The proposed £105,000 allowance is £9,477.24 more than the £95,522.76 salary for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, and £6,401 more than an MP’s £98,599 salary.
How it compares with other mayors
The recommended mayoral allowance is slightly below the £105,035 paid in the West Midlands and lower than the published figures used by the panel for Greater Manchester, £118,267, South Yorkshire, £113,532, and West Yorkshire, £118,330.
It is higher than allowances listed for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, £99,143, the North East, £92,000, Liverpool City Region, £91,808, and Tees Valley, £65,000.
The panel said the mayor would be “ultimately responsible for the discharge of all executive functions of the authority” and would act as its principal policymaker.
Deputy mayor and commissioners
It also recommends an allowance of £52,500 for a deputy mayor, subject to eligibility conditions, while mayoral commissioners could receive up to £63,000 each.
The mayor would be permitted to appoint up to 10 commissioners, although that does not mean all 10 positions would necessarily be created or paid at the maximum rate.
What happens next
Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority’s board will consider the proposed allowances at its meeting on Monday 16th November 2026.
The mayoral election is scheduled for May 2028 after the government rejected a request from local leaders to bring it forward to May 2027.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
