Mayoral Referendum in Sunderland ... 10,615 and counting

It appears that the campaign to call for a referendum for a Directly Elected Mayor is underway and the Notice has been posted on the Sunderland City Council website.

Sunderland Echo Editor, Rob Lawson recently stated on Radio Newcastle that he believes that there is no demand and the newspaper will not be running any campaign.

I believe that because of the public disillusionment with the inept Labour run Council that the campaign for a referendum will gather a momentum of its own and the magic figure of 10,615 electors will be gathered in a very short space of time.

However, this may not be necessary if the ruling Labour group vote for the proposed motion in Council. But if they vote 'No' and the people then sign the petition wishing to have the referendum then they are going to have to play 'catch-up' with public opinion.

My view is 'Let the People Decide.'

After all, could an Independent Mayor with a Cabinet picked for ability rather than loyalty to a political party be any worse than the bunch that has ensured that Sunderland City Council is always in the headlines for all the wrong reasons?

Perhaps now the time has come to put Sunderland First!

Directly Elected Mayor
Please see the notice below for details of the number of signatures required on a petition seeking a Referendum for a Directly Elected Mayor

S. 34 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000
LOCAL AUTHORITIES (REFERENDUMS) (PETITIONS and DIRECTIONS) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2001 (AS AMENDED)

Notice is given in accordance with section 34 (2) (b) of the Local Government Act 2000 and Regulations 4 and 5 of the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2001 (As Amended), that the number stated below is equal to 5% of the number of local government electors shown in the published Electoral Register for the Authority's area as at 15th February, 2006:

Verification Number: 10,615 Electors

The verification number published above will be used for verification purposes in relation to any Petition for a Directly Elected Mayor, presented to the Authority during the period of 12 months beginning with 1st April, 2006 until 31st March 2007.
(Where the verification number published between the 15th February and the 28th February 2007 is a lesser number, then that number shall be used for verification purposes in relation to any Petition presented to the Authority in the period beginning on the date of publication of the lesser number and ending immediately before 1st April 2007.)

DATED 20th February 2006