For some time now I have been concerned that Thanet District Council’s system of a cabinet and chief executive doesn’t work well for us, frankly I thought there was no solution to this until today.The local government act 2000 means that local authorities can opt for various different constitutions, including the one like London, with an elected mayor.
As I understand it if we had this system there would be no cabinet or chief executive and the mayor of Thanet would be elected by the people of Thanet every four years.
The thing I find most unfair about the system as it stands at the moment is the position of councillors who are not in the cabinet, we have elected them and hold them responsible for our problems yet they a virtually powerless.
It requires a petition signed by at least 5% of the electorate to force the council to hold a mayoral referendum.
Anyone got any ideas of the pros and cons of having a Mayor of Thanet?
Interesting thought...
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, who elects the current 3 ceremonial mayors in Thanet?
Michael,
ReplyDeleteUnder the mayoral system there is a chief exec, The mayor may select staff, he/she does not employ them.
Also there has to be an elected assembly to vote on the mayors policies. ie much the same as we have now. The current 3 mayors are elected by the people who are elected by the people. It would be neigh on impossible to get rid of them so you would end up with four mayors.
The system is perverse, butprobably wisely so, as it prevents knee jerk reactions, or attempts by the likes of a few vocal people to impose their views on the silent majority
Under the 2000 act you still have achief executive too.
ReplyDeleteWe can't have a directly elected Mayor because the people would not choose the best person. Councillor are the only people with enough knowlege to chooose the right leader as we have the experience.
I agree, the people of Thanet are not smart enough to directly elect the leader. I am not being rude when I say this, but councillors know more about these things, so you need to trust us
ReplyDeleteThis is a little bizarre you know anonymous 19.52 21.19 and 21.24 trust me I’m a councillor, assuming you are a councillor and the same person.
ReplyDeleteDo you not find it a bit of a contradiction in terms that while local people were smart enough to elect you, they are not smart enough to elect a mayor?
I believe you will find that there are in fact two different constitutions available to district councils with a mayor, directly elected Mayor with Council Manager or directly elected Mayor with Cabinet.
I also believe you will find there is more flexibility of constitution under a mayor and that a mayor is supposed to politically impartial, something that could be beneficial to Thanet.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI agree with anon 1952, but not 2119 and 2124.
It would be nearly impossible to 'get rid' of the current three mayors. Secondly, any 'Mayor' of Thanet would have to have a chief exec,to lead the staff. In addition can you seriously imagine any mayor being non political? I don't think so.
Also an elected assembly is important, (what if the people of Thanet, by mistake elected a Mayor who was even more bonkers than us politicians?) as it provides a system of checks and balances to stop the Mayor introducing policies that are unacceptable to the majority. Without that system you end up with an elected Dictator.
Finally you have the cost, £200,000 plus for a referendum, and then another vote for a mayor, plus the cost of the assembly, plus the hidden cost if the assembly is of a different political persuasion to the Mayor.
I opposed the introduction of the cabinet system, but I think now that councillors are beginning to understand their role in the new system. Point in case, Cllr D Green and Cllr M Tomlinson. (though there are others available).
This system has been running since 1999, and to be serious for a moment, The last thing Local government needs at the moment is another change.
Personally, I feel we have only two choices, The one we have, or a unitery authority, covering Dover/Shepway/Canterbury/Thanet/Swale. I prefer Thanet for Thanet people.
Ken thanks helpful comments on something I am just beginning to grasp the implications of.
ReplyDeleteHere in Ramsgate there is a lot of feeling that we are getting a bit of a raw deal, both in terms of share of investment and consultation on major issues.
Frankly Ken as we are now essentially cabinet governed what we lack is cabinet representation, a town the size of Ramsgate should have a senior member of the cabinet looking after its interests and resolving issues raised by its electorate.
While you have ordinary businessmen in the town asking unanswered questions, like why destroy the main sands car park? You are going to have to face people looking for solutions like parish councils, elected mayors, in fact anything we can think of.
I would say that there is highly likely to be a mayoral referendum in Thanet followed by a mayoral election, probably in 2010, unless of course 5% of the population wouldn’t sign a petition for an elected mayor and people would vote against voting for a mayor, that seems very unlikely indeed.
The council could save a great deal of time and money by just announcing a mayoral election next year, along with the European, county council and parish elections.
No I am not a counciilor. I am just making a point. Agreeing with you
ReplyDeleteWhy are people pretending to be councillors? to make them look silly, maybe
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI agree, the people of Thanet are not smart enough to directly elect the leader. I am not being rude when I say this, but councillors know more about these things, so you need to trust us
27 May 2008 21:24
and your last phrase sums up exactly why the Labour Group voted against Cllr Ezekiel as Leader of Thanet Council
This is all so childish
ReplyDelete