DO WE NEED ANOTHER MAYOR?
From:
David Padua
Date:
Jun 05 14:31 UTC
Short link
In the recorder there are some letters published about whether or not we should
in Newham continue with an elected Mayor. Legislation allows, after a minimum
period following a successful referendum on the issue, to allow a second
referendum to see if us "joe public" want it to continue.
I put in my thoughts on this, as well as the rationale behind one chap
complaining about it, but the root question do we really want to keep an
elected Mayor is a valid one and debate we should be engaging in.
Here is my letter that I sent to the Recorder:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Sir,
I read with interest the comments from John Whitworth over the
power the Mayor wields in Newham, and how the council are powerless to
stop him in any of his decisions (Recorder letters 22.05.2008)
Funny
though Mr Whitworth didnt express these concerns he now has when he was
a councillor for Labour, was he quite happy with the set up then? He
could collect his alllowances without actually having to do anything in
the council chamber?
Also he says "the councillors would no
longer be able to influence decisions, or even be informed until after
they were taken..." it seems he has forgotten the role of overview and
scrutiny.
These concepts were developed in Mayoral authorities
to prevent the abuse of power that is so prevalent in Newham today. The
idea is that councillors hold the mayor to account over his decisions,
they review, question, and probe. They provide overview and scrutiny.
Something Newham Labour has failed to grasp.
Mr Whitworth is in a far better position to say why no
one in Newham Labour has ever scrutinised any of the Mayors decisions,
have never gone on record in council demanding answers or offering an
alternative position. The only one who did was Mike Law, who resigned and
joined the Tories, a man of principle.
While
Mr Whitworths concerns are valid, and I share them, as well as the
debate do we need to continue to have an elected Mayor is also an
important one, the real motives behind Mr Whitworth raising these now
rather then before when he was a councillor is more likely down to the
fact the Mayor directly or indirectly had him deselected as a council
candidate.
__________________________________________________________
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
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