21 September 2001
More than 100,000 residents (46.4%) voted in favour of retaining the current system of a leader with a Cabinet in the city-wide consultative referendum.
But just over 40% expressed a preference for a mayor with a Cabinet and 13.4% wanted a mayor with a council manager. Supporters claim that adding the latter two options together puts 53.6% of residents in favour of a mayor.
But campaigners will meet resistance from the majority of the city's councillors, who have already indicated that they will vote to retain the leader-with-Cabinet model at a meeting on October 1.
Council leader Albert Bore, one of the few advocates of mayors, is now likely to look for ministerial intervention.
'The council is duty-bound to hold a binding referendum,' said John Williams, executive director of the New Local Government Network.
PFsep2001
