Second jobs now allowed for WECA employees?
Dan Norris, metro mayor for the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has announced he’ll be putting himself forward to become an MP. He told Bristol247that if he is selected and elected, he intends to work both jobs concurrently.
But wait. Since WECA’s inception in 2017, its constitution has held the clause:
On no account should an employee accept either secondary employment or a financial payment from any person, body or organisation, with which the Combined Authority is involved, e.g. contractors, developers, consultants.
This is of particular interest to Bristol residents, whose own constitution holds no such prohibition. If it had, the mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, would not have been able to take a few of his additional jobs or hospitality from YTL who was later given planning permission by Bristol City Council.
Cllr Asher Craig would not have been able to work as a director at Stepping Up Learning Academy CIC, which has had two contracts from the Council. etc.
That clause, prohibiting ‘secondary employment’ was present in the constitution from 2017 up until its fourth iteration in 2022.
However, in April 2023, no such clause can be found in the constitution. In fact, the entire section on gifts and hospitality seems to be missing.
I have contacted WECA for comment.
Is Mayor Norris able to have a second job or not? And is an MP a job or is Norris even an employee as stated in the constitution?