Leader or Mayor - Which Would you Prefer?

Published on 15 August 2010

Would you prefer a Leader or Mayor to run Epping Forest District Council? Councillors would like to know your views before chosing one of two options later this year.

Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 all councils with a Leader and Cabinet have to consult on executive arrangements. Although the new Coalition Government has said it intends to repeal this law at some point, Councils still need to comply with the current Act and carry out this consultation. The Government acknowledges that under new legislation the Council may need to reconsider the system again some time soon.

Ian Willett, Assistant to the Chief Executive and Returning Officer at Epping Forest District Council said: "The main difference in the options is how the head of the council is elected. Under the current system of Leader and Cabinet, the Leader is appointed by councillors. A Mayor would be directly elected by residents of the District. Other councillors are able to remove the Leader from office whereas a Mayor could only be removed by residents at elections every four years, unless they resign or become disqualified."

Mr Willett continued: "It's important that residents get a say before councillors make their decision. The online consultation is a quick and easy way for residents to tell us their views. Paper questionnaires are also available as we want to encourage as many residents as possible to take part."

The options available are:

Option 1 - Leader and Cabinet

The Leader is elected by the councillors of Epping Forest District Council. They serve up to four years unless they cease to be a councillor or are removed as Leader by a resolution of the Council. The Leader appoints up to nine councillors to the Cabinet. He or she decides which areas of responsibility (portfolios) each member of the Cabinet will hold. The Leader can sack members of the Cabinet or change their portfolios at any time. The Leader can delegate some or all of their powers to the Cabinet, Committees, individual councillors or council officers.

Option 2 - Elected Mayor and Cabinet

Residents vote to decide who should be elected as Mayor to run the Council. The Mayor is elected for four years unless they resign or become disqualified. Candidates don't need to be councillors but if a serving district councillor is elected as Mayor their seat on the Council automatically becomes vacant. The Mayor holds a range of powers (except for those reserved to the Council by its Constitution). She or he can appoint between two and nine councillors to a Cabinet and decides what, if any, executive powers they will exercise. The Mayor can sack any member of the Cabinet at any time and appoint a replacement. The Mayor appoints one member of the Cabinet as Deputy Mayor. That person exercise the powers of the Mayor in his or her absence or if he or she no longer holds office. The Mayor drafts the council budget which can only be overturned by a two thirds majority of the Council.

PETITION TO HOLD A REFERENDUM

While the law requires councils to consider which system of government to use, it also gives residents the right to petition for a referendum to change from Leader and Cabinet to Mayor. This can occur at any time. By coincidence the council is aware of steps to raise just such a petition. This process runs separately but if a petition of 4,800 names is received, then the council will hold a referendum in which every voter registered in Epping Forest District has the right to vote for their preferred style of local government.

Responses to the council's own consultation do not qualify as signatures to any petition. Those members of the public who favour the Elected Mayor can use this consultation to express a view but they can still also sign the petition if it is presented to them.

A referendum is not an election. It would give residents the chance to say which system of local government they want. If they voted in favour of the Mayoral system, the Council would then hold a subsequent election where everyone could vote for their preferred candidate.

If you live or work in the district you can complete the consultation online or by downloading a paper copy below.

Further information:

• Letter from Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (pdf 49 KB)

• Downloadable Paper Copy of Consultation (pdf 18 KB)
  

The consultation is now closed.

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