Elected mayor ‘within a year’ (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Elected mayor ‘within a year’

2:10am Monday 25th January 2010 in

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Candidates for the post of a possible elected mayor in Bradford should be chosen using a US-style primaries system to encourage people from outside politics to stand, according to a report from an independent think-tank.

The New Local Government Network believes this open system, where anyone regardless of party affiliation could stand as a candidate, will mean “more people from a wider range of backgrounds should have the opportunity to shape the rules and take part in decision-making at all levels in our country”.

The call comes as Conservative leader David Cameron has said Bradford would be forced to hold a referendum on an elected mayor within a year of the Tories coming to power.

Twelve big cities, including Bradford, would have to hold the vote on the same day as local elections.

The NLGN report also calls for areas such as Manchester and Newcastle to have city-regional elected mayors with even more devolved powers.

The report argues that strong local leadership and vision is needed to take bold decisions and citizens need to be better engaged in choices about what can be realistically delivered, particularly with constraints on public spending likely in the coming years.

However, in Bradford, consultation took place last year, with Bradford Council asking residents whether they would prefer one of two leadership models – elected mayor or leader and cabinet, which is similar to the current system.

Only 178 responses were made to the consultation – equivalent to 0.05 per cent of the electorate – and 65 per cent of those that did respond favoured an elected mayor. However, the main political groups and key partners are in favour of the leader and cabinet model.