Community leaders in Peasedown St John are backing the campaign for an elected mayor for the whole of B&NES, with an aim to replace the current model of local government with a more accountable mayor-cabinet model.
Local B&NES councillors Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan (Independent) believe changes need to be made at the top of the council, to ensure residents are more empowered.
Cllr Karen Walker said: “For years, there has been a growing feeling across the area that decisions aren’t made in the best way, that B&NES council doesn’t consult, and that there seems to be no one accountable within the council leadership when things go wrong.
“Look at cuts to children’s centres, the closure of CAB services across B&NES, and the Dorchester Street bus gate fiasco.
“What they all demonstrate is the lack of understanding that the council leadership, hidden behind red-tape, has for the views of local people.
“An elected Mayor will end the anonymity and be an individual the electorate can point to when things go wrong. The buck will stop with him or her.”
The campaign, led by a non-party political group, has already received support with almost 9,000 people signing a petition that has triggered a Yes-No referendum which will be held on Thursday 10th March across the local authority.
Cllr Sarah Bevan believes replacing the old system with a new one will address one of the big fundamental issues that has been a concern for the last twenty years.
She said: “For over twenty years, since the formation of Bath and North East Somerset Council, there has been an unhealthy balance between North East Somerset and Bath.
“Whichever party runs the council, favour is always given to the areas where that party has elected councillors.
“An elected Mayor for the whole area will receive support from Chew Valley to Larkhall, from Timsbury to Twerton, from Radstock to Newbridge and from Peasedown St John to Keynsham.
“They’d have a connection with every area, and thus be inclined to treat every area more fairly.”
The current system, introduced in 2002, gives a lot of power to the Leader of the council who has the most powerful position, however he/she isn’t elected by the general public but by his/her political party.
Sarah added: “Simply, instead of having a Leader selected by a party, we’ll have a Mayor elected by the people.
“It will also mean that residents living in areas like mine will have an even greater say. As well as two votes for their B&NES Council representatives, they’ll have a third for who they’d like to be Mayor.”
If the public vote yes, the election for the first ever Mayor for B&NES is expected to take place in October 2016.
The Mayor will remain in office for a four-year term before needing to seek re-election.
They’ll have the same powers as the current Leader.
Karen and Sarah will be delivering a leaflet to every home in Peasedown St John, Carlingcott and Braysdown in the run up to 10th March outlining the benefits that an elected Mayor will bring to Peasedown St John.
For more details about the referendum to ensure everyone can have a say on how they are governed, visit: www.mayorforbanes.org.