Newly elected Mayor for the West of England, Helen Godwin, has confirmed the appointment of her first Deputy Mayor, selecting Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, to take on the role.
The announcement follows the Mayor’s swearing-in on 7 May, where it was revealed that the Deputy Mayor position will rotate between the leaders of the region’s local councils. Councillor Guy’s appointment will be formally noted at the Mayoral Combined Authority AGM on Friday, 6 June—the first to be chaired by Mayor Godwin.
As Deputy Mayor, Councillor Guy will support the Mayor in delivering the region’s strategic priorities. His responsibilities will include:
- Chairing boards, meetings, and working groups
- Ensuring effective governance and collaboration across the Combined Authority
- Championing regional initiatives in transport, housing, skills, and sustainability
Commenting on his appointment, Cllr Guy said:
“I would like to thank Helen for the impressive start she has made in delivering a ‘reset’ for the West of England, working closely with Maggie, Ian, Tony and myself. It’s key that we ensure that this reset is mirrored in how we govern the combined authority, and I am thrilled to be chosen as the first deputy mayor so that I can directly influence how we lay the foundations for future sustainable success.
“I am excited by the opportunities that Helen’s fresh, new collaborative approach opens up to benefit our communities across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. I look forward to working with the Mayor and Leaders to influence central government and help gain the investment we need to really improve people’s lives across our region.
“Undertaking the role of Deputy Mayor is a great honour, both personally and for Bath and North East Somerset, and I very much look forward to supporting the Mayor and delivering change for West of England residents in the coming year.”
This appointment marks the first time the Deputy Mayor role has been filled since 2021. The Independent Remuneration Panel had previously confirmed plans to define the role’s responsibilities once an appointment was made.
The upcoming AGM will also confirm several governance updates, including:
- Allowing Chairs of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee to address each MCA meeting
- Confirming the appointment of independent Audit Committee members
- Reviewing other key annual business items
Mayor Helen Godwin’s leadership signals a renewed focus on collaboration, transparency, and delivery across the West of England region.
Image credit: iStock
