Ministers call for proposals on powers of directly-elected mayors

The government has launched a consultation asking residents of 12 English cities on the powers that would be appropriate for directly-elected mayors to hold.

The consultation also asks for their views on how mayors can be subjected to local scrutiny.

The creation of directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities outside London – “subject to confirmatory referendums” – was a commitment in the coalition agreement of May 2010.

Leicester already has a mayor in Sir Peter Soulsby, who was elected in May 2011. The other cities involved are Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield. Referendums will take place in those cities in May 2012.

The Department for Communities and Local Government said ministers wanted to ensure that elected mayors had powers that were “properly suited to local circumstances”.

The government said it would not impose a standard set of powers, suggesting in the consultation paper that it did “not have all the answers” and did “not presume to know what is best for each of the cities in terms of the specific powers that should be exercised by individual city mayors”.

Instead it has proposed that the cities themselves come forward with their own proposals. The government also said it would consider proposals from businesses, the voluntary and community sector and other public bodies.

“Where the government shares the view that in a city a mayor is the lowest appropriate level to have responsibility for a function or service, the presumption will be that we will transfer that function to the mayor subject to the mayor’s agreement, as required in the Localism Bill,” the consultation paper explained.

The consultation, What can a mayor do for your city?, is available here. It runs until 3 January 2012.

The right for the 12 cities to have an elected Mayor is contained in the Localism Bill. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent, secondary legislation will provide for these cities to hold mayoral referendums on the local Election Day in May 2012.

If there is a vote in favour, the city concerned will hold an election for its first mayor shortly after. Mayors will hold office for four-year terms.

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said: "Evidence from London and beyond shows the difference elected mayors can make. They can provide strong and visible leadership, and take the tough decisions needed to attract jobs and investment for the future.

"Every city has its own unique needs, identity and character. There's no such thing as a 'one size fits all'mayor – they should be able to do whatever it takes to get to grips with the local challenges and help their city flourish. That's why I'm asking the people who live and work in our 12 largest cities – what could a mayor do for you?"