Given that Hinkley C is the primary focus of our devolution deal, it would be almost certain that a Somerset-centric Mayor would be elected.

“Where they exist, the elected mayor will chair the combined authority, and will appoint the combined authority’s ‘members’ (the leaders of the participating local councils) to portfolios in their ‘cabinet’.

The members will be able to overrule the mayor by a two-thirds majority on certain matters, such as the budget and mayoral strategies. On other matters, such as spatial plans, unanimity will be required.”

http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2016-0122/CDP-2016-0122

Spatial plans = housing, commercial and industrial development in the whole of Devon and Somerset in the hands of one person unless every other cabinet member disagrees.

Thus, the Mayor only needs to have a close understanding with one person within the Cabinet to make the whole of the rest of the Cabinet impotent on decisions about development – and, on other matters, the Mayor only has to carry one-third plus one with him or her to overrule the remaining two- thirds minus one.

Modern democracy!