(04 May 2024, 9:18 am)MetrolineGA1511 wrote Given that Kim plans to franchise buses over the whole of her area, I wonder whether Nexus will continue to exist as such.  We can still have a local management for Metro and some local tickets/fares for days restricted to Tyne & Wear.

There are rumours that even in Newcastle Kim got more votes than Jamie.  So, has the job of North of Tyne Mayor continued and they both gone head to head, Kim might even have been voted in by the electorate in this more restricted area.

The set up of the Transport function in the NECA (Mayoral area) is complex. 

Nexus is the trading name of The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, a body corporate under the Transport Act 1968 - so abolishing Nexus isn't very easy.

NECA  has delegated to the county councils (Durham & Northumberland) the exercise of the following functions in their respective areas: 
a) implementing concessionary travel schemes pursuant to sections 93 -105 of the Transport Act 1985; 
b) determining local bus information to be made available, and the way in which it should be made available, pursuant to sections 139 to 143B of the Transport Act 2000; 
c) determining the operation, performance and development of accessible transport provision (including the provision of grants) pursuant to section 106 of the Transport Act 1985; d) all obligations of county councils relating to mandatory travel concessions pursuant to sections 145A to 150 of the Transport Act 2000. 
e) those functions of County Councils set out in Part IV of the Transport Act 1985 (Passenger Transport in areas other than Integrated Transport Areas) under:  
• section 63 – functions of local councils with respect to passenger transport  
• section 81 – provision, maintenance and operation of bus stations 
• section 82 – bus stations: restriction on discriminatory practices

So it's not clear how the Mayor will introduce franchising in Northumberland and Durham unless the County Councils also want it (which isn't guaranteed).