Call for £375k elected mayor referendum rejected

The current mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative, Wyboston), told the meeting he had not seen 'Bedford residents marching through the streets demanding a referendum'.

Opponents of the elected mayor system said the poll could still happen if enough residents signed a petition.

Labour's Zara Layne said it was a shame residents wouldn't have a say in the matter, adding that the public seemed to like the system as there was a clearly identifiable, responsible individual, and the buck stopped there.

The vote against the motion had a majority of eight, with 16 councillors voting for a referendum while 24 opposed it.

Opponents questioned whether spending £375,000 on a referendum was a valid use of the council's money, citing concerns over the cost and potential impact on services.

The full council would have elected a leader who would then select a cabinet if a referendum had been successful and the post of mayor had been abolished. This system would have allowed for the ability of the full council to remove a leader, something that councils cannot do with an elected mayor. But opponents argue that a strong leader system puts too much power in the hands of one person who residents had no say in appointing.

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