Campaign fights elected mayor plans

An elected mayor would control a £2bn budget

A group of cross-party councillors are launching a campaign to stop Birmingham from getting an elected mayor.

Cities such as London, Moscow and New York already have powerful elected mayors and it has been proposed that one councillor should be elected to run Birmingham for four years.

But the idea has proved unpopular with a group of Birmingham City councillors.

They say that one man in charge of a £2bn council budget would be a disaster and are against what they claim would be an "elected dictator".

Is one person really going to be concerned about the empty bins, pot-holes and lamp bulbs that don't work?

Cllr Mike Whitby

The councillors are also worried that an "American style" mayor would not be bothered with everyday problems.

Councillor Mike Whitby, deputy leader of the Conservatives, asked: "Is one person really going to be concerned about the empty bins, pot-holes and lamp bulbs that don't work?

"That is what the people of Birmingham want addressed and that is what they get addressed by their local councillors."

But city council leader councillor Albert Bore disagreed.

Cllr Albert Bore: Backs referendum

He said: "The directly elected mayor model gives the opportunity to identify much more easily with the city council, the policies and the actions of a city councillor than the current system."

The councillors say that they have support from more than half of the elected officials on Birmingham City Council.

But the people of Birmingham will have the chance to decide whether they want their own elected mayor for the city.

A referendum on the issue, costing an estimated £200,000, will be held next month.

If the people of Birmingham decide they do want a directly elected mayor, the contest itself will take place in May 2002.