THE WEST of England mayor Tim Bowles faces three main challenges in his new role, research published today by a government think tank has suggested.

Among the issues presented in the paper by the British Academy and Institute for Government, it highlights the low public engagement, scepticism about the role of mayors and dwindling Westminster government commitment to devolution.

Mr Bowles, a former South Gloucestershire Conservative councillor, was elected to lead the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) on May 4, in a narrow win over Labour’s candidate Lesley Mansell.

Leading the newly formed authority, consisting of South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset, the ‘Metro Mayor’, as it has been dubbed, has powers over housing, transport and jobs, devolved from government as part of a £1billion deal.

Citing the 30 per cent turnout across the region, the paper suggested that the public do not understand and are not engaged by the new devolution arrangements, adding that the mayor could overcome this by “securing some highly-visible early wins, like an integrated transport ticketing system.”

In tackling the sceptical attitude towards a new mayor being imposed on local authorities, the paper said that Mr Bowles should look to build effective relationships with the council leaders and cooperate with neighbouring authorities.

It added that the mayor should use his public profile and ‘soft power’ to become a powerful advocate for the West of England, and look to secure further powers and fiscal freedoms for the region over the coming years.

The report’s lead author Akash Paun, said: “The election of a new mayor is only the start of the devolution journey, and Tim Bowles faces some significant challenges if he is to be successful in realising the opportunities devolution offers the West of England.”

The paper, by Mr Paun and Maddy Thimont Jack, is based on a seminar organised by the British Academy in Bristol on 27 April 2017 as part of the Governing England programme.