Watch: York councillor asks ‘cheeky’ question to mayor wannabe

The race hasn’t even begun, but already potential candidates for the position of York and North Yorkshire mayor are getting grilled.

A York Lib Dem councillor has asked the North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner a ‘cheeky’ question related to her quest to be the first elected mayor for our area.

The on-line meeting of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel yesterday (9 March) was the last one meeting before the Mayoral elections.

Cllr Darryl Smalley he has been strongly opposed to plans by commissioner Zoë Metcalfe to downgrade Huntington Fire Station, under the so-called “risk and resource model”.

Earlier this week, she announced she wanted to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. So Cllr Smalley asked: “This is a bit cheeky, but might as well, last meeting and all that.

“Just to say, obviously best of luck commissioner in your selection for [Conservative] mayoral candidate.

“But given this item in terms of the risk of resource model – what services within the mayor’s remit should residents in the north of York be concerned about should you be successful?”

Ms Metcalfe replied: “Well, I don’t think that’s a question for this panel is it Councillor Smalley?

“If you wanted to have a conversation about that, outside of this panel, that will be fine.”