A Boris for Notts?

PERSONALITY over substance, novelty trumping experience, a popularity contest instead of a political discussion – these are just some of the criticisms laid at the door of the elected mayor system.

However Notts County Council are sneaking their heads above the parapet to canvas public opinion on whether the county should get a Boris to call their own.

Notts residents rejected the scheme in 2001 – but only just. 43% voted in favour of keeping the current cabinet and Council leader system and with faith in politicians at a seeming all-time low, who’s to say the result wouldn’t be different at the second time of asking.

Tony Egginton, a self-proclaimed ambassador of the elected mayoral system has held executive power as Mansfield’s mayor for six years, but even he has his doubts whether a countywide position would work.

He said: “I think they would struggle to make a countywide mayor fit.”

“We’ve got a lot of great cities and towns and that’s where I think the real strength of a mayor is because people feel that he or she is representing their views and issues. If you make it countywide then people in Edwalton would say he’s more interested in the north of the county and so on.”

“There’s a danger that Notts as a county is too big.”

I have to agree, but I wouldn’t put it past the electorate to call for a figure that would be accountable for when things go awry.

Tony added: “People elect a mayor because they trust that individual. Instead of a political leader who follows what a party says, I look outward to the people I represent.”

“A lot of politicians who are vocal against elected mayors are just protecting their own egos from losing to independent candidates who are really in tune with the people.”

The public consultation present their results to the council in December – watch this space.