Rejecting mayor ‘mistake’ says MP
LANCASHIRE’S decision to reject an elected mayor is a “mistake” that could see the region “fall behind” its neighbours, the Valley’s MP has said.
Politicians at the top of the county’s 15 local councils have agreed to bid for a so-called “county deal” with the government.
However, the decision not to have an elected mayor to oversee the delivery of the scheme has been questioned by Rossendale MP Jake
Berry.
Mr Berry said: “I think it’s a mistake - for two reasons. One, because I think any form of devolution without some form of local reorganisation is the wrong thing for people who live in Lancashire.
“It cannot be right that there are more councillors in East Lancashire than there are senators who run the United States. It’s ridiculous.
“I want to see far fewer politicians, I want to reduce the cost of politics and I just want quicker decision making and two tier local authorities have had their day, they are not efficient.”
Since devolution was first touted for Lancashire some seven years ago, council leaders have never been able to reach an agreement on whether the county should have a mayor.
Mr Berry added: “I think it’s a real missed opportunity not going for an elected mayor. If I was say seeking to invest in the aerospace industry, or I was seeking to invest in cyber-security I wouldn’t really know who to talk to.
“If I want to invest in Greater Manchester, I’d send the email to Andy Burnham’s office. I think if we don’t pursue that twin track of reorganisation and having an elected mayor Lancashire will continue to fall behind and that’s certainly something I don’t want to see.”
Without a mayor it will mean a one council, one vote arrangement - with a two-thirds majority required to approve any proposal. Each council which would be represented by that authority’s leader - would have a veto over any proposed project that was in their patch or if their money is required for it or if they can “reasonably demonstrate that it is reasonably likely to have a material impact on their area”.