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Stoke on Trent's Future

On Tuesday 22nd July 2008, BBC Radio Stoke hosted a public debate about the political future of Stoke on Trent - and you can hear it all again here. The debate followed up the recent critical report by the Governance Commission.

From May 2009 Stoke-on-Trent must adopt a new system of local government. There are two options which voters will have to consider in a referendum, which is likely to be held in Autumn 2008:

To adopt the 'Elected Mayor and Cabinet' system?
To adopt the 'Council Leader and Cabinet' system?

But what's the difference - and should we care anyway?

Background

Recently, a special independent 'Governance Commission', reporting on the future of Stoke-on-Trent, investigated possible local government systems for the city, providing pros and cons for each system. It also slated the present state of local government in the city, calling it "broken".

Read and see these BBC reports on the issue. Just click on the links...

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Debate details

On the day of the debate which took place at Staffordshire University in Shelton, the chairman was BBC Radio Stoke's Stuart George.
The panel consisted of: Mark Fisher (Lab MP Stoke Central); Mark Meredith (Elected Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent); Prof. Mick Temple (Staffordshire University); Peter Kent-Baguley (of the Democracy for Stoke group); and Christine King (Vice Chancellor of Staffordshire University, and also member of The Governance Commission).

The audience consisted of specially invited members of the Stoke-on-Trent business community, city councillors, representatives of local associations and pressure groups, and also members of the public.

To hear the whole debate, which was an hour long, just click on the link below.

Hear: Debate on Political Future of Stoke on Trent >

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Issues

The biggest issue in the debate turned out to be the lack of choice in the referendum - a council leader system is the only alternative to the elected mayor system.
Professor Christine King served on the Governance Commission, which described politics in the city as broken. She said that they had looked at the issue of more choice, but found that the law prevents it.

The Labour MP for Stoke Central Mark Fisher responded by saying that he's been lobbying the government over the lack of choice facing the city as it chooses a new system of politics.

If you too would like to make your feelings on the subject known, just use the message board below...

last updated: 23/12/2009 at 09:41
created: 10/07/2008

Have Your Say

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. THIS BOARD IS NOW CLOSED.

Jean Boyling
What about all these websites that keep cropping up like SmokeonTrent?

D Perry
What is the point in asking the community what system we want to adopt, when once again the major alone decides what system we adopt. Another waste of £120,000 of our money, just like the consultation on the schools booklet !!!!!!

[email protected]
Devolution of local powers to local people by the 'parishing' of Stoke - on Trent by creating Town or Parish Councils across the City. This will create 'local' democracy and 'Champions' for local areas.

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