17 May 2002
Local government minister Nick Raynsford this week told the Commons' urban affairs committee that the commission, the independent regulator of elections in the UK, had raised serious concerns over two key mayoral issues.
He added that the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions would not force councils to undertake referendums until both had been resolved fully.
Speaking on May 14, he said: 'The commission is concerned that the 28-day ban on [political] references to referenda prior to voting has prevented vital information being made available to the public.
'There are also concerns over the wording of referenda, so we've prevented their further use until these issues are addressed.'
Raynsford later told Public Finance that decisions on Bradford and Birmingham – both of which have fiercely opposed the concept of directly elected mayors – and Thurrock council in Essex were 'unlikely until the end of the summer' and could even be made late this year.
The DTLR has previously indicated that a decision on whether or not to use its reserve powers to impose referendums on Birmingham and Bradford would be made before the autumn.
A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: 'We have already decided to proceed with the system of leadership that emerged from our initial postal ballot, so it will not be disruptive.'
Despite the commission's misgivings, Raynsford is adamant that there is a future for the mayoral project.
Opposition from councillors and the lukewarm reception for the system – highlighted by low voter turnouts and the election of fringe or independent candidates on May 2 – has led some groups to question the project.
But Raynsford said: 'We now have the opportunity to see the mayoral system work, with different authorities adopting different constitutions.'
PFmay2002
