Do we want, need or even afford city Mayors in the UK?

[spooky3 10]

Do we want, need or even afford city Mayors in the UK?

 

Much is expected from a new breed of elected mayors for England's larger cities. David Cameron thinks they will prove to be inspirational leaders. Nick Clegg says they will herald an unprecedented transfer of power from Whitehall to town halls by unleashing a wave of "city deals" with the government. And cities minister Greg Clark talks boldly of powerful mayors attracting the necessary private investment to rebalance the economy away from London and south-east England.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/03/mayors-wont-solve-regional-inequality-england

 

 

Here's a quick GirectGov quote on types of Mayors

There are two types of mayor with different roles. Many local councils have a mayor for ceremonial duties, who is chosen by the councillors. A few councils have an elected mayor with the power to make decisions, who is chosen by the public.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Localgovernment/DG_073313

 

 

 

Here's what the PM has said:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-urges-yes-vote-for-city-mayors-7670236.html

 

and here's the opposition...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8226017/Ed-Miliband-faces-Labour-split-over-candidates-for-city-mayors.html

 

 

 

 

By the way, if you want to discuss who you want for Sheffield Mayor, then please use the thread in Sheffield Discussions...

Who should run for Sheffield's Mayor?

[shane39 10]

Just means ordering even more troughs for the greedy gits to feed out of.

[spooky3 10]

Just means ordering even more troughs for the greedy gits to feed out of.

 

mmm, it's totally the cost and mission creep. How long before we have regional governments back on the agenda... would you really want the independent state of South Yorkshire?

[fake 10]

I thought we were going to be having a referendum to decide?

[alchresearch 214]

Mayors obviously work well for big world cities like London and New York, but I can't see it working in the provinces.

 

There's talk of it brining in investment and business, but councils should be doing that already.

 

The recent Sea Odyssey in Liverpool was a resounding success, bringing £12 million into the city - for the first time in years people were actually queueing for trains to get to Liverpool - and this was on the back of the City of Culture funding - nothing to do with a mayor.

 

I just think it's an excuse for councillors to give themselves more of a national footing like MPs.

[Mecky 10]

No nneeeeeeeeedd

[spooky3 10]

What were Yorkshire Forward, aren't there many people working to bring in investment, like the Chambers of Commerce.

 

 

Also, isn't this what the local council are supposed to be doing, why set up another mirrored council to do the same thing as the existing one is already supposed to be doing, hmmm, i'm starting to repeat myself now...!

[spooky3 10]

No nneeeeeeeeedd

 

Mecky....

[Jim Graham 10]

If we can afford £500,000 to pay the unions we can afford a mayor. You all make good points about what the council and chambers of commerce etc SHOULD be doing. The problem is they aren't doing them. Labour's begging bowl economics only attracts public money and that is drying up. How much inward investment went into the airport? And then Labour closed it down. Then there was the steel drum thing that closed almost before it was open. Labour have a lamentable record attracting investment. A mayor could do no worse and could do a lot better. If Labour fear a mayor it must be a good thing. Anyone seen the Labour manifesto yet?

[Hairyloon 10]

As I understand, the elected mayor would simply be a direct replacement for the leader of the council.

On the plus side, this could take some power away from the party machine, which can only be a good thing.

Against that, the current leader of the council is elected from the councillors, so is presumably paid as a councillor already. The mayor would be a new position, so another wage...

Do we know how much they are expecting to get?

[mediumfast 10]

No,no and er.....no!

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

Better idea: County Mayors.

[Although 'Mayor' is a bad and confusing name; perhaps 'Tribune' instead?]