It is being reported in the press that the Council are going to hold elections for Mayor of Liverpool. There has been talk of a referendum on the issue but it now appears this won’t happen.
The council apparently already has the power to move to a directly elected mayor model – instead of having a council leader – as long as two-thirds of the council votes for the plan. And Central Government agrees with the plan.
If this agreement is received Liverpool’s councillors are set to vote as soon as February on whether to move to the elected mayor model, with cabinet.
The benefit to the electorate is that having a mayor makes more money available for the city. No mention of the wider region. Council elections, due in May, could double as Mayoral elections.
The runners will no doubt come forward in the next days but will it mean more for the electorate than having a Council Leader?
