NEW MCA BOARD MEMBERS AND DEPUTY MAYOR CONFIRMED AT AGM

Published 17 June 2026 at 2:30pm

New members of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Board have been confirmed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), alongside the appointment of a Deputy Mayor.
 

Councillor William Brown (Barnsley Council) and Councillor Fran Belbin (Sheffield City Council) have been appointed to the MCA Board, reflecting updated nominations from constituent councils for the 2026/27 municipal year.

At the meeting, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, also confirmed the appointment of Councillor Chris Read as Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor role is a statutory position, designed to provide continuity in governance, including chairing MCA Board meetings in the Mayor’s absence.

The Deputy Mayor role is a statutory position, designed to provide continuity in governance, including chairing MCA Board meetings in the Mayor’s absence.

The role does not include additional day-to-day mayoral responsibilities and is separate from the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime role, which is currently held by Kilvinder Vigurs.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “The Deputy Mayor is a vital role, appointed from within the MCA Board; someone who can step in to keep things moving across the Combined Authority’s many workstreams if I’m not around.

“I’m really pleased to confirm that Chris will serve as Deputy Mayor, and I’m grateful for his continued support.

“Chris is a hugely experienced local leader, with a real depth of knowledge that spans South Yorkshire and the full remit of the MCA. He commands the respect of partners across the region and in government, and I know he’ll bring that experience to the role.

“I’d also like to welcome Councillor William Brown and Councillor Fran Belbin to the MCA Board. I look forward to working with them to deliver for communities right across South Yorkshire.”

Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said:

“I’m pleased to take on the role of Deputy Mayor, supporting the work undertaken by the Mayor and his team. With the support of colleagues, I will do what I can to support effective governance and ensure we can continue to deliver for communities across South Yorkshire.” 

The AGM is the point at which appointments to the MCA Board are formally made each year in line with the Authority’s constitution.

The Deputy Mayor will act as chair of the MCA Board in the Mayor’s absence, helping to ensure the Combined Authority can continue to operate effectively.

The Board also agreed a wider set of governance arrangements for the coming year, including committee memberships, advisory bodies and the schedule of meetings, to support the continued delivery of priorities for communities across South Yorkshire.

You can see the full list of committee memberships, advisory bodies and the schedule of meetings on the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Governance website.