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Civil service chief supports elected mayors

12/05/2008

Liz Meek, the new regional director of government office for the north-west, has spoken of the benefits that elected mayors could bring to the region.

Ms Meek, who worked alongside Ken Livingstone when he was mayor of London, believes elected mayors could help restore confidence in the political system.

At the end of April, councillors in Bury sent details to Salford MP and local government secretary Hazel Blears about their wish to install Greater Manchester's first elected mayor.

"It's about decentralising power, reducing targets and reporting, and the onus falls on the local authorities to get it done," she told the Liverpool Daily Post.

"I'm here to link what’s being done on the ground with government ministers and make sure what is planned actually happens."

A referendum on whether to have an elected mayor - who would have powers to appoint councillors and set Bury's budget - will be held on July 3rd.