In the recent few weeks, I have observed that a few elected councillors and people are vigorously campaigning for having an elected mayor in our great city. I fail to really understand, why are they wasting their precious time in these kinds of campaigns? There are myriads of problems in each ward and councillors would do well if they concentrate on real and burning issues rather than instigating people on an issue which was out rightly rejected by nine out of ten cities in 2012.
Why destabilise the current system where power is in the hands of elected 65 councillors rather than empowering just one person? The leader of the council is then elected by the elected councils which is the most democratic way to do it, like the Prime Ministers are elected.
The logic by the 'yes campaigners' is not really convincing. It is not the favour from the ruling council but the hard work of councillors in the ward that make them successful.
Power in the hand of one person would make him or her more. Kindly also remember that an election for directly elected mayor will cost the poor council taxpayers an additional £0.25 million.
Let us learn from the wisdom of nine out of ten cities, who have rejected this proposal in 2012 and also that the elected mayor of Bristol has been raising the council tax year after year. All the elected councillors should work in the interest of the community rather than wasting valuable time of thousands of people by asking them to campaign for an elected mayor in Bath. Please stop this campaign, a very humble request!
Dr Yukteshwar Kumar
Lambridge Ward Liberal Democrats
