Community leaders in Peasedown St John are backing the new campaign for an elected Mayor for the whole of Bath and North East Somerset.
It aims to replace the current Leader-Cabinet model of local government, with a more accountable Mayor-Cabinet model.
Local councillors Nathan Hartley and Karen Walker believe changes need to be made at the top of the council, to ensure residents are more empowered.
Karen Walker said: “There is a growing feeling across the area that decisions aren’t made in the best way, that B&NES council doesn’t consult, and that there seems to be no one accountable within the council leadership when things go wrong.
“Look at cuts to children’s centres, the closure of public toilets and the recent Dorchester Street bus gate fiasco. What they all demonstrate is the current lack of understanding that the council leadership, hidden behind red-tape, has for the views of local people.
“An elected Mayor will end the anonymity and be an individual the electorate can point to when things go wrong. The buck will stop with him or her.”
The campaign, led by a non-party political group, has already received support from across the whole of the district.
Campaigners need to collect 7,000 signatures (5% of the electorate) by the end of December to trigger a Yes-No referendum – expected to be held on 7th May 2015 (the same day as the national and local elections).
Cllr Nathan Hartley believes replacing the old system with a new one will address two fundamental issues that have been of concern for the last twenty years.
He said: “For almost twenty years, since the formation of Bath and North East Somerset Council, there has been an unhealthy balance between North East Somerset and Bath.
“Whichever party runs the council, favour is always given to the areas where that party has elected councillors.
“An elected Mayor for the whole area will receive support from Chew Valley to Larkhall, from Timsbury to Twerton, from Radstock to Newbridge and from Peasedown St John to Keynsham.
“They’d have a connection with every area, and thus be inclined to treat every area more fairly.
“And secondly, in all these years we’ve had consecutive hung-councils that have meant no party has ever had overall control which has resulted in weak leadership, quick fixes before election time, and a lack of clear vision and forward planning.”
The current system, introduced in 2002, gives a lot of power to the Leader of the council who has the most powerful position, however he/she isn’t elected by the general public but by his/her political party.
Nathan added: “Simply, instead of having a Leader not selected by the public, we’ll have a Mayor elected by the people.
“It will mean also that residents living in areas like mine will have an even greater say. As well as two votes for their B&NES Council representatives, they’ll have a third for who they’d like to be Mayor.”
If the public vote YES, the election for the first ever Mayor for B&NES will take place in November 2015. The Mayor will remain in office for a four-year term before needing to seek re-election. They’ll have the same powers as the current Leader.
Karen and Nathan will be delivering a leaflet to every home in Peasedown St John, Carlingcott and Braysdown during September with a freepost petition form that every resident can easily return at no cost to themselves.
For more details about the referendum to ensure everyone can have a say on how they are governed visit: www.mayorforbanes.org.