PART 4Election of Mayor

Political adviser17

1

The Mayor may appoint one person as the Mayor’s political adviser.

2

Any appointment under paragraph (1) is an appointment as an employee of the Combined Authority.

3

No appointment under paragraph (1) may extend beyond—

a

the term of office for which the Mayor who made the appointment was elected; or

b

where the Mayor who made the appointment ceases to be the Mayor before the end of the term of office for which the Mayor was elected, the date on which the Mayor ceases to hold that office.

4

A person appointed under paragraph (1) is to be regarded for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1989 Act (political restriction of officers and staff) as holding a politically restricted post under a local authority.

5

Subject to paragraph (6), section 9(1), (8), (9) and (11) of the 1989 Act (assistants for political groups31), apply in relation to an appointment under paragraph (1) as if—

a

any appointment to that post were the appointment of a person in pursuance of that section; and

b

the Combined Authority were a relevant authority for the purposes of that section.

6

Subsection (3) of section 9 of the 1989 Act applies in relation to an appointment under paragraph (1) as if the words from “and that the appointment terminates” to the end of that subsection were omitted.