Call for Shropshire residents to elect mayor

Shropshire should have its own mayor directly elected by county residents to make the political decision-making process more accountable, it has been claimed.

Under the radical plan, suggested by a town councillor, nominations would be put forward by towns across the county and a vote taken to elect a mayor who then would sit on Shropshire Council's cabinet.

It has been put forward by Jennifer Leyton-Purrier, who sits on Ludlow Town Council, who claimed the idea would help engage residents across the county with local politics.

She is launching an appeal to gain the 1,000 signatures necessary to bring the item up on the agenda at Shropshire Council.

Under British law, principal authorities in a county or borough can choose to hold public elections for the position of mayor, rather than councillors appointing an individual to the role.

Shropshire should have its own mayor directly elected by county residents to make the political decision-making process more accountable, it has been claimed.

Under the radical plan, suggested by a town councillor, nominations would be put forward by towns across the county and a vote taken to elect a mayor who then would sit on Shropshire Council's cabinet.

It has been put forward by Jennifer Leyton-Purrier, who sits on Ludlow Town Council, who claimed the idea would help engage residents across the county with local politics.

She is launching an appeal to gain the 1,000 signatures necessary to bring the item up on the agenda at Shropshire Council.

Under British law, principal authorities in a county or borough can choose to hold public elections for the position of mayor, rather than councillors appointing an individual to the role.

Future provisions are also being made for more powers to be given to directly-elected mayors in the Localism Bill being put forward by the Coalition Government. Elected mayors are in place in Middlesbrough and several London boroughs.

In Shropshire, the unitary Shropshire Council is the principal authority which would be eligible to elect a mayor if it chose to.

Councillor Leyton-Purrier said several people in Ludlow had mentioned the idea to her and said she felt it would help make local politics more accountable.

"It could be really interesting for the whole of Shropshire and it would certainly get people involved in local politics.," she said.

"I'm sure people in different towns will come up with their own champions who they will back, and the person who gets in would sit alongside the likes of council leader Keith Barrow on the cabinet."

A spokesman for Shropshire Council said if 1,000 signatures were submitted on either online or hard copy petitions a matter could be raised on an agenda at a full meeting, although councillors would not be obliged to debate it.

People can e-mail Councillor Leyton-Purrier at jlpludlow@aol.com.