Do you want an elected mayor? (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Do you want an elected mayor?

11:00am Monday 19th July 2010 in

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DECISIONS on council tax and rubbish bins in Basingstoke could be taken by an elected mayor like Boris Johnson from next year.

But is that what you want?

The public are now being asked by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to give their views.

A law brought in by the last Labour Government means the borough has to change the way it is run from May 2011, with just two options available.

One is a beefed up version of the current system of leader and Cabinet.

The other is for the council to be run by a directly-elected mayor like Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, with the power to take important decisions.

Supporters of directly-elected mayors say they make it more likely that voters will get the policies they want.

Opponents say elected mayors can lead to communities being lumbered with single-issue campaigners and publicity-seekers in monkey suits.

The consultation, asking local residents for their views on the subject runs until August 27.

Changes to the way Basingstoke and Deane is governed have been made necessary by the Local Government Act of 2007, which allows for only two options.

The council can either have a new-style leader with a Cabinet or a mayor directly elected by voters.

The borough currently has a designated leader and a Cabinet of councillors who have been approved by the whole council.

Each Cabinet member has a special area of responsibility.

The mayor’s role, meanwhile, is almost entirely ceremonial.

The new type of “strong leader” outlined in the Act would be appointed for four years instead of one, and would choose between two and nine councillors for the Cabinet without needing the approval of the full council.

This was the option most councillors voted for in 2008, when they first debated the plans.

The elected mayor option, however, would mean the borough would have a mayor voted in by local residents, who can choose his or her own Cabinet members without needing councillors’ approval.

Detractors say it could lead to a mayor like H’Angus the Monkey, a man dressed as a monkey who was a football club mascot elected by the people of Hartlepool.

Only about a dozen councils have opted for a directly-elected mayor.

Among them is Middlesbrough, where former police officer Ray Mallon, credited with bringing in a “zero tolerance” crime policy, has been elected twice.

The picture remains confused because the Coalition Government has told councils it intends to make changes of its own with new legislation.

Dorcas Bunton, corporate director at the borough council, said: “The last council debate on this issue favoured the “strong leader” option as this was closest to the current system.

Councillors however, are keen to hear if residents have any views on the how the council should take decisions.”

Once they have heard from voters, councillors will make their own minds in October, with the new system coming into force after the elections in May next year.

If they decide to go for an elected mayor, a referendum of local voters will be necessary to approve the change.

A referendum will also be triggered if five per cent of the local population sign a petition calling for an elected mayor.

Voters have already rejected the idea of an elected mayor once – back in 2000 after another public consultation.

Anyone wishing to help the council decide can either visit its website www.basingstoke.gov.uk and complete an online survey, or call 01256 844844 for a leaflet and paper survey.