Opposing party leaders and mayor say move is not in area's interests

DISTRICT party leaders and Retford's mayor are united in opposition to the idea of an elected mayor for Bassetlaw.

A yearly notice in the Retford Times placed by Bassetlaw District Council says that five per cent of electors – 4,297 people – will need to sign a petition to force a referendum on the issue.

An elected mayor is different to the current Retford mayoral position, which is a civic or ceremonial role.

An elected mayor would replace the current council leader and cabinet system in place in Bassetlaw, if voted through.

Leaders of the Labour group and the opposition Conservative group are against the idea.

"It is not in the best interests of Bassetlaw," said the authority's leader, Councillor Graham Oxby. "You only have to look at other areas of the country to know it won't work here – a man dressed as a monkey got elected in Hartlepool, for example.

"And there is a real chance of the elected mayor not being at all in tune with what the electorate needs.

"The current system is better."

Conservative group leader Mike Quigley said:

"I don't think it would work here – we have a situation where we have a district council split between two large towns and other smaller towns as well as a county council.

"It works better in cities and unitary authority areas such as London, Leeds and Sheffield where an elected mayor would have responsibility over a whole range of services."

Retford mayor Adele Mumby was also against a new system coming into force.

"I don't support it at all," she said. "There would be a big cost attached to any change and people have got bigger and better things to be concentrating on instead."

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