Plymouth Plans Referendum on Elected Mayor

Residents of Plymouth will vote on whether to adopt an elected mayor, following a successful petition that garnered 13,250 valid signatures, exceeding the 5% requirement. The city council has set aside £410,000 for the referendum, which must occur within six months. Currently, the leader of the council is chosen by councillors, but a successful referendum would replace this position with an elected mayor. Critics, including council leader Tudor Evans, have labeled the initiative a 'vanity project' that could incur significant costs and divert funds from essential services. Proponents argue that direct leadership is necessary to address pressing local issues such as poverty and crime. The last attempt to establish an elected mayor in Plymouth was rejected by 59% of voters in 2001, and concerns have been raised that the proposed mayor would lack the powers typically associated with metropolitan mayors.