Elected mayor in defence of role

The city's elected mayor is Mark Meredith

The elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent has defended his role as a public consultation over the political system in the city continues.

People have been asked whether they would prefer an elected mayor with cabinet or council leader with cabinet.

Councillors will be asked which system they want at a meeting in September.

"I believe that the directly-elected mayoral model is much fairer and much more visible," elected mayor Mark Meredith told the BBC's Politics Show.

"... in a recent MORI poll 71% of leaders of councils are not known by the electorate.

"It's certainly not the case in Stoke-on-Trent, where the majority of the electorate have the chance to vote for the directly-elected mayor."

The government has said the city's system of an elected mayor and council manager has not worked.

The consultation will end on 8 August and the councillors' meeting has been scheduled for 11 September. There could be a referendum in October.