HC Deb 04 July 2002 vol 388 cc557-8W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which authorities have indicated that they wish to proceed to elected mayors. [65995]

Mr. Raynsford

To date, 28 local authorities have held referendums under the Local Government Act 2000 on whether or not to adopt executive arrangements that involve a directly elected mayor. Eleven of these referendums produced a result in favour of a system with an elected mayor. Of these, seven (Doncaster, Hartlepool, Lewisham, Middlesbrough, Newham, North Tyneside, and Watford) held their first mayoral election on 2 May this year, and the remaining four (Bedford, Hackney, Mansfield, and Stoke-on-Trent) will hold their first mayoral election on 17 October 2002. Corby borough council have also recently advised us that they will be holding a mayoral referendum later this year, following receipt of a valid local petition.