Tory leader calls for referendum on elected mayor for Swansea
SWANSEA'S Tory leader will call on the council to change the authority's structure to have an elected mayor.
Rene Kinzett, councillor for Mayals, will table a motion at this month's full council meeting. He wants the council to approve plans to consult the people of the county to see if they want to have an elected mayor like, for example, in London.
Mr Kinzett said an elected mayor would make a city leader a more accountable figure and a "prominent voice across Wales, the UK and the wider world".
He added this model of local government would make "the mayor a visible and accountable decision maker unable to hide behind bureaucrats or anonymous councillors".
The councillor will propose the changes at a council meeting on March 30.
Mr Kinzett said: "I am proposing a motion to action the chief executive to get the ball rolling on consulting the people of Swansea about the authority's governance structures with a view to holding a referendum on moving from the leader and cabinet model to the elected mayor option."
The council's constitution states the authority can choose to have an elected mayor through the holding of a referendum either when 10 per cent of the electorate petition for the referendum to be held or the council proposes a referendum on the subject after a period of public consultation.
His motion says: "This council believes that it is right the governance arrangements for this authority should change from a leader and cabinet form of executive to a mayoral form of executive, pursuant to Article 15.2 (b) of the council's constitution and instructs the chief executive to carry out the necessary consultations with the people of Swansea prior to the holding of a binding referendum."
helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk
4 Comments
by Puzzled Swanse, Swansea
Tuesday, March 22 2011, 11:15PM
“What are these people like Mr Welsby of Clase and Mr Kinzett of "outside of Swansea" on about? It is not for Swansea Council to decide on this issue. It is for the citizens themselves. Why is Mr Kinzett of "outside of Swansea" putting a Motion to Council and why does Mr Welsby support him? The answers are clear. They crave self publicity and have a personal agenda of attacking the current regime ruling Swansea Council. Listen to the local radio on a Sunday morning at 9am and hear what Mr Welsby has to say week by week after week - the record stuck a year or two ago! Please change the disc!”
by Ray Welsby, Clase Morriston
Monday, March 21 2011, 9:36PM
“This is no new idea, their was a referendum group formed approximately 10 years ago who proposed this and presented a petition to the council who turned it down. At the time the labour group who were the ruling group were in favour of a cabinet, also the lib/dems and independents@swansea said they would get rid of the cabinet system but, once the got their hands on the extra allowances they forgot their promises. this system with an elected Mayor would cut the bill for councillors and senior officers by at least £2.5 million pound ayear and it only require a four year contract, with no package deals and if the elected Mayor failed he could be removed with no financial package.”
by Swansea Guy, Swansea
Monday, March 21 2011, 7:58PM
“Another old story recycled by an absentee Councillor desperate for self created publicity.”
by richard, llanelli
Monday, March 21 2011, 3:19PM
“Is Cllr K offering to pay for said referendum himself or just the people of his ward but more likely the people of Swansea. Aren't there enough of these votes at present just to satisfy political ends and glorifications. Of course we'll be told that it's in the interest of democracy.”