Peter Kent-Baguley

End failed experiment at end of year

The 23rd October referendum result clearly showed the people of Stoke-on-Trent want to be rid of the elected mayor and council manager system. Had they been given the choice they would also have said they want to be rid of the elected mayor sooner rather than later.

To combat the political inertia, the organisational break-up and the increasingly frustrated residents labouring under the "take it or leave it" attitude of the ruling coalition action, urgent action, is required.

If Labour's elected mayor Mark Meredith really cares one iota about the development of our City he will end the coalition's crippling crises of confidence inflicted on thousands of innocent residents who deserve far better from their City Council. We know, unfortunately, that we are stuck with the present system and the present elected mayor until June next year. The effects of the regrettably long wait could be eased if the elected mayor facilitated a transitional administration, drawing on experience and expertise from across the Council Chamber, regardless of party affiliations or none.

The City desperately needs fresh, insightful and decisive leadership; the global financial crisis has already affected the local housing market and it is increasingly affecting the local employment market. This is not the time for following government diktats to hive of our council employees into some privatised adventure to stimulate an office building spree for the private sector.

The private sector has demonstrated most markedly how quickly it races to the public sector, the government, you and me, for cover and support when its own grasping folly leads to the collapse of its unsustainable system. Even Peter Mandelson, friend of the rich oligarchs, realises the privatising folly of the government and has saved the Post Office system from certain collapse by insisting that the Post Office retains the card system.

To avoid escalating crises of confidence in the City Council, top level changes must be introduced early in the New Year. The planning for those changes should start now.