Key Points:
- Senior Whitehall officials are reportedly considering scrapping directly-elected council mayors.
- The move is linked to concerns about public confusion due to the introduction of mayoral strategic authorities.
- The devolution White Paper suggests discontinuing the council mayor model for new unitary councils.
- New unitary councils will be required to adopt a leader and cabinet governance model.
- Ministers have not clarified the fate of existing council mayors.
- A source indicated that Whitehall officials favour eliminating council mayors entirely due to governance challenges in certain local authorities.
- Currently, there are 13 directly-elected council mayors in the UK, with nearly half based in London.
- The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has refused to comment on future plans for the existing council mayors.
Are Elected Council Mayors Facing the Axe in the UK?
Senior Whitehall officials are reportedly advocating for the discontinuation of directly-elected council mayors, a decision allegedly driven by concerns about governance complexities and public confusion. While the devolution White Paper hints at phasing out the model, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has yet to clarify the fate of current council mayors.
What Does the Devolution White Paper Propose?
The devolution White Paper suggests that new unitary councils will no longer have the option to adopt mayoral governance. Instead, these councils will be mandated to follow the leader and cabinet model. The paper reportedly reflects concerns that the introduction of mayoral strategic authorities could confuse the public if council mayors continue to exist alongside them.
Will Existing Council Mayors Be Affected?
The future of the 13 current directly-elected council mayors remains uncertain. When questioned about the potential impact of the new proposals, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government declined to provide specific answers. A source close to the discussions claimed: “They [Whitehall officials] would rather get rid of council mayors altogether.”
Why Are Council Mayors Under Scrutiny?
The reported move to phase out council mayors is linked to governance concerns. The same source suggested that council mayors are more prevalent in local authorities that have experienced problems or interventions, making them less attractive as a governance model for the future.
Which Councils Currently Have Directly-Elected Mayors?
Currently, there are 13 local authorities with directly-elected mayors, with almost half concentrated in London. These include:
- Bedford Council
- Newham London Borough Council (LBC)
- Croydon LBC
- Tower Hamlets LBC
- Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC)
- Mansfield District Council (DC)
- Leicester City Council
- Middlesbrough Borough Council (BC)
- Hackney LBC
- North Tyneside MBC
- Lewisham LBC
- Salford City Council (CC)
The proposals, if implemented, could mark the end of a significant chapter in local governance, impacting councils that have relied on the mayoral system for years.
What Happens Next?
With no definitive stance from the government, uncertainty looms over the future of directly-elected council mayors. Discussions within Whitehall continue, but it remains unclear whether the discontinuation of council mayors will be extended to existing holders of the office. Ministers are expected to deliberate further before finalising any decisions.
For now, elected council mayors in the UK face an ambiguous future, as local governance in the country potentially shifts towards a more unified model.
