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Elected Mayor Petition |
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Jan 9 2011, 12:16 PM
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I just wanted to ask if any of those who support the mayor system would like to help with a petition? This is not a party political petition, as far as I know two other political parties have requested information about forcing a referendum. Hundreds of people have already signed up, and the target date for submission is early February. I am personally planning to do Hungerford this Saturday with some colleagues, and Newbury on Friday and Saturday evening. There will be people in Newbury on Saturday daytime too.
The purpose of this petition is not because it's neccessarily my view or anyone in the Labour Party locally. We have decided to carry out this petition after the current administration refused to carry out a proper consultation on the leadership models available to the council. In correspondance with the leader of the council, I requested that the leadership decision be delayed so that a proper consultation could be carried out. I was told to "include it in my manifesto if it is something I care about". This shouldn't be about what I think, or what Graham Jones believes. There is a lot of support for the mayor option and it's only right that the general public should be allowed to have their views heard.
I would like to think all parties will be supportive of staging this referendum, especially the Lib Dems who are supposedly all for proportional representation. An elected mayor system would mean that the leader of the council would be elected by a large percentage of the district rather than 800 votes in one ward. The directly elected leader would also be accountable for when things go wrong, unlike at present when nobody seems to be accountable. Do you think Graham Jones would have closed the Ormonde Centre and Hillcroft House if he was accountable to the whole district? No, I don't think so either.
If you are available to assist with the petition, my mobile number is 07593 278690 or you can email richard.garvie@googlemail.com
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Replies
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Jan 10 2011, 12:33 PM
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The cost of the mayor would be absorbed by additional expenses paid to the leader and the abolition of the Chairman of the council role and the tens of thousands of pounds that it costs us. We may even be slightly better off, it would depend on what the administration in charge after the referendum decided to award to the post in terms of salary. There is a cost for the referendum, and it could be around £25,000. That is regrettable, but had the consultation been conducted to include all option, there would have been no additional cost.
With regards to accountability, if the Mayor or Cabinet had misled the public or acted in what appears to be a dishonest way, would you vote to keep that mayor? As it is, Graham Jones is leader of the council and even if everyone in Newbury and Thatcham voted against the Conservatives, he could still be leader of the council. If it was the directly elected mayor model, those votes may be worth more than what he got elsewhere and we may get another person leading the council. It's a more proportional system than what we have now, Cameron and the Conservatives are rolling them out over the uk and O would have thought our local conservatives would be inline with their party nationally. I think the Lib Dems will support it too, given the fact that they claim to want a more proportional voting system.
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Jan 10 2011, 01:38 PM
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QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 12:38 PM) So not really accountable then. Unless you are thinking of having Mayoral elections every time there is a **** up.
And you have the cost of a full Mayoral election too. The accountability of all politicians is limited to the ballot box (or the courts in a few cases), it is not likely that a local mayor would be any different. However, a mayor would be a bit more accountable than our current councillors - who are rarely elected as personalities, more as party representatives. There is no reason why a popular individual should not be elected mayor, regardless of party affiliation (or lack of it). There would, of course, be a cost to the election, but not a huge one if it was done at the same time as the council elections.
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Jan 10 2011, 01:47 PM
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QUOTE (blackdog @ Jan 10 2011, 01:38 PM) The accountability of all politicians is limited to the ballot box (or the courts in a few cases), it is not likely that a local mayor would be any different.
However, a mayor would be a bit more accountable than our current councillors - who are rarely elected as personalities, more as party representatives. There is no reason why a popular individual should not be elected mayor, regardless of party affiliation (or lack of it).
There would, of course, be a cost to the election, but not a huge one if it was done at the same time as the council elections. Exactly - a bit more accountable. Hardly worth the bother. We might end up with a Boris Johnson.
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Jan 10 2011, 03:07 PM
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QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 01:47 PM) Exactly - a bit more accountable. Hardly worth the bother.
We might end up with a Boris Johnson. How dreadful - things might start to happen!
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Know your place!
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Jan 10 2011, 03:09 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 10 2011, 03:07 PM) How dreadful - things might start to happen! I'm sure they would. But no way to stop them....
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Jan 10 2011, 03:23 PM
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QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 03:09 PM) I'm sure they would. But no way to stop them.... That's where you are wrong. Full council will get to vote on all of the big decisions, including ratifying the budget. Mayors can also be recalled by the electorate, wheras there is no way for the public to recall the leader of the council using the strong leader system.
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Jan 10 2011, 04:01 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 03:23 PM) That's where you are wrong. Full council will get to vote on all of the big decisions, including ratifying the budget. Mayors can also be recalled by the electorate, wheras there is no way for the public to recall the leader of the council using the strong leader system. Full council voting eh? With the mayor & his cabinet having a whacking great majority.... Recalling Mayors? A little bit US-centric isn't it?
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Jan 10 2011, 04:11 PM
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QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 04:01 PM) Recalling Mayors? A little bit US-centric isn't it? Is that an argument for not having it?
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Jan 10 2011, 04:15 PM
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QUOTE (Iommi @ Jan 10 2011, 04:11 PM) Is that an argument for not having it? Not at all. We can elect our Police Chiefs as well.
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Posts in this topic
Richard Garvie Elected Mayor Petition Jan 9 2011, 12:16 PM dannyboy What is the cost to the Taxpayer? Jan 9 2011, 12:27 PM Richard Garvie I shouldn't believe it would cost much more if... Jan 9 2011, 01:00 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 01:00... Jan 9 2011, 01:08 PM Richard Garvie Yes, because the consultation was fudged and the l... Jan 9 2011, 01:19 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 01:19... Jan 9 2011, 01:59 PM user23 No prizes for guessing who'll be the first to ... Jan 9 2011, 02:23 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 02:23 PM) No ... Jan 9 2011, 02:36 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 02:36... Jan 9 2011, 03:07 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 03:07 PM) Eve... Jan 9 2011, 03:11 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 02:36... Jan 9 2011, 04:57 PM user23 QUOTE (Cognosco @ Jan 9 2011, 04:57 PM) Q... Jan 9 2011, 04:58 PM Cognosco QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 04:58 PM) If ... Jan 9 2011, 05:37 PM dannyboy The problem is all that would happen in West Berks... Jan 9 2011, 02:42 PM Richard Garvie If there was a Conservative Mayor elected by West ... Jan 9 2011, 02:53 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 02:53... Jan 9 2011, 02:56 PM Richard Garvie Electing a mayor would ensure more transparency an... Jan 9 2011, 03:09 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:09... Jan 9 2011, 05:24 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 05:24... Jan 9 2011, 05:26 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 05:26 PM) Doe... Jan 9 2011, 05:32 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 05:32... Jan 9 2011, 05:51 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 05:51 PM) Wha... Jan 9 2011, 06:02 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 06:02... Jan 9 2011, 06:09 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 05:24... Jan 9 2011, 05:27 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 9 2011, 05:27 PM) N... Jan 9 2011, 05:33 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 05:33... Jan 9 2011, 05:39 PM JeffG QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:09... Jan 9 2011, 07:07 PM user23 It's fairly obvious what you're doing. You... Jan 9 2011, 03:14 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 03:14 PM) It... Jan 9 2011, 03:30 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:30... Jan 9 2011, 03:32 PM Richard Garvie Talking of changing the subject, you never answere... Jan 9 2011, 03:52 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:52... Jan 9 2011, 05:15 PM Richard Garvie Am I the leader of the party? If I was the leader ... Jan 9 2011, 03:43 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:43... Jan 9 2011, 03:44 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:43... Jan 9 2011, 03:49 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:49... Jan 9 2011, 03:52 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 03:52 PM) Rig... Jan 9 2011, 03:55 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 03:55... Jan 9 2011, 03:58 PM Richard Garvie Not at all. But as a candidate to the electorate, ... Jan 9 2011, 04:04 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 04:04... Jan 9 2011, 04:07 PM Richard Garvie Not at all. If the party aren't happy with wha... Jan 9 2011, 04:09 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 04:09... Jan 9 2011, 04:26 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (user23 @ Jan 9 2011, 04:26 PM) Wha... Jan 9 2011, 04:29 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 04:29... Jan 9 2011, 04:42 PM Richard Garvie Depends where you are sitting. The Labour Party wi... Jan 9 2011, 04:46 PM Richard Garvie First of all, you are just presuming that I would ... Jan 9 2011, 05:46 PM Richard Garvie As you can see by the text you have quoted, I don... Jan 9 2011, 06:21 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 06:21... Jan 9 2011, 06:56 PM Richard Garvie The elected mayor option allows the possibility of... Jan 9 2011, 07:25 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 07:25... Jan 9 2011, 07:49 PM Richard Garvie Based on the population, it could cost around £25,... Jan 9 2011, 08:12 PM dannyboy who can then appoint whoever he or she likes in th... Jan 9 2011, 08:14 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 9 2011, 08:14 PM) ... Jan 9 2011, 08:17 PM user23 QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 08:17... Jan 9 2011, 08:22 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 9 2011, 08:17... Jan 10 2011, 12:53 AM TallDarkAndHandsome Chance of a referendum on Europe / Human Rights Ac... Jan 10 2011, 10:06 AM Richard Garvie QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Jan 10 2011, 10... Jan 10 2011, 11:34 AM dannyboy So the public have their say & we end up with ... Jan 10 2011, 11:49 AM Squelchy QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Jan 10 2011, 10... Jan 10 2011, 02:13 PM On the edge How did the saying go, was it '..and represent... Jan 10 2011, 03:05 PM kellsbells iS IT FAIR THAT SUPPOSEDLY APOLITICAL COUNCIL OFFI... Jan 9 2011, 08:14 PM NWNREADER A lot af waffle has been spouted by politicians in... Jan 9 2011, 09:07 PM Iommi QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Jan 9 2011, 09:07 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 10:51 AM Richard Garvie Not at all, you are missing the fact that the lead... Jan 10 2011, 11:58 AM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 11:5... Jan 10 2011, 12:01 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 04:01 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 04:29 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 04:2... Jan 10 2011, 04:34 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (Bartholomew @ Jan 9 2011, 03:54 PM... Jan 10 2011, 04:33 PM dannyboy QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 10 2011, 03:07 P... Jan 10 2011, 03:09 PM Iommi Like you though, I don't necessarily trust the... Jan 10 2011, 04:20 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Iommi @ Jan 10 2011, 04:20 PM) Lik... Jan 10 2011, 04:31 PM Richard Garvie But it shouldn't be a job for the boys, and th... Jan 10 2011, 04:38 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 04:3... Jan 10 2011, 04:42 PM Richard Garvie Adopting a mayor in West Berkshire might actually ... Jan 10 2011, 04:47 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 04:4... Jan 10 2011, 04:51 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 04:51 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 04:56 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 04:5... Jan 10 2011, 05:02 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 05:02 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 05:13 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 05:1... Jan 10 2011, 05:22 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 05:22 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 05:28 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 05:2... Jan 10 2011, 05:32 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 05:32 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 05:36 PM Iommi I think the only way democracy in politics would i... Jan 10 2011, 04:49 PM Darren Why only 10% to "recall"?
Surely, it ha... Jan 10 2011, 05:27 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (Darren @ Jan 10 2011, 05:27 PM) Wh... Jan 10 2011, 05:32 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 05:3... Jan 10 2011, 05:33 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 10 2011, 05:33 PM) ... Jan 10 2011, 05:35 PM Darren QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Jan 10 2011, 05:3... Jan 10 2011, 05:40 PM Richard Garvie QUOTE (Darren @ Jan 10 2011, 05:40 PM) Bu... Jan 10 2011, 06:00 PM Iommi Yes, would 10% represent ~25% of the local council... Jan 10 2011, 06:03 PM
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