Report reveals what Mayor of South Yorkshire’s top priorities should be

Improving education, franchising buses and driving growth in Sheffield city centre should be on the next Mayor of South Yorkshire’s agenda for 2022, according to the Centre for Cities. 

The think tank’s report comes as local elections are set to take place on May 5 and suggested these policies would be vital in levelling up South Yorkshire. 

According to the review, schools in every local authority in the region perform below the national average.

It was suggested the new mayor bring together school leaders to discuss common difficulties and establish best practices in improving education in the area.

Centre for Cities said that championing education charities that inspire young people and help young them to develop vital skills could lead to a high-skilled workforce. 

Making changes to unreliable bus services under the current privatised system would also address some major problems, according to the report. 

Franchising the bus network would allow the new mayor to coordinate routes, schedules and fares, making bus travel more accessible and attractive to those living in the region. 

Additionally, despite Sheffield being the largest and most economically productive urban area in South Yorkshire, the report found it’s underperforming in comparison to other UK cities. 

The city has a high concentration of high-skilled and well-paid jobs, but a lack of office space has meant the total number of jobs in Sheffield fell by 2% between 1998 and 2015.

Few quality transport links has also been damaging to the city, as just 35% of residents can reach the city centre in 30 minutes by train, tram or bus. 

The review recommended the next mayor encourage the construction of more office space in the city centre and boost demand by building housing near key transport routes to drive growth. 

Centre for Cities Chief Executive, Andrew Carter, said:  ‘As South Yorkshire emerges from the pandemic and grapples with a growing cost of living crisis, the new mayor will face huge challenges to repair the damage and get the region on the path to success.

‘Whoever is elected on the 5th May will need to work closely with local businesses, councils and the Government to level up South Yorkshire by boosting skills, overhauling public transport, and driving growth in its urban areas.

‘Failing to prioritise these policies will slow recovery and potentially hold South Yorkshire back from reaching its full potential as a hub of high-skilled, well-paid jobs.’

Photo by Benjamin Elliott