All change for Crawley's Mayor?

2.10.46pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 20th Oct 2006

Crawley Borough Council accepted unanimously Northgate Councillors Gordon & Linda Seekings suggestion that the Council should move toward a new system for choosing Crawley's Mayor. A system based on democracy rather than as a gift of the biggest political party to one of their own members.

Historically the Borough Council has chosen a member of the majority group to be the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on the "absolute power absolutely" principle. As a result, until this year, it has almost always been a member of the Labour party even though there may have been better candidates from other political parties. T

The present system has prevented many good Councillors from becoming Mayor or Deputy Mayor notwithstanding their ability or wishes to aspire to those Offices. This includes the late Conservative Councillor Ken Dunn whose recent death was remembered by a minute silence at the same Council meeting.

Cllrs Gordon & Linda Seekings

Gordon & Linda Seekings, in making the suggestion for the change in system said, "We recognise the good work done by the Mayor and Deputy Mayors of Crawley over the past years but the existing process for selecting them is morally corrupt and needs to be changed."

"We believe that recognition should be given to others and not just to the majority party. We need to recognise the relevant strengths of the political parties each year and over the years of course, but we should also to take into account the length of service of the Councillors and their ability and wish to hold the office."

"Crawley Borough Council should not reject somebody just because they are in a different political party from the majority group. The Mayor is the first citizen of Crawley but too often they have only reflected the worst excesses of machine party politics. Crawley deserves better."

However the Borough Council was not prepared at the meeting to accept a new scheme should be introduced for next year - although it is still a possibility. What has been decided though is that various alternative selection systems will be looked at. The Council will decide the final decision as to what method later.

The full text of the Liberal Democrat motion to Crawley Borough Council on Wednesday evening:

"Historically this Council has normally chosen a member of the majority group to be the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on the "absolute power absolutely" principle. This Council notes that although this year the Deputy Mayor was selected from one of the opposition parties this has not been the custom and practice previously. This has resulted over the years in opposition Councillors being prevented from becoming Mayor or Deputy Mayor notwithstanding their ability or wish to aspire to those Offices.

The system as presently set out in the Council's Standing Orders, notwithstanding the welcome change made this year, will not prevent a reversion to the old system.

This Council, whilst recognising the good work done by the Mayor and Deputy Mayors of Crawley over the past years, accepts that the existing process for selecting them is flawed and needs to be changed.

This Council therefore agrees that the present Standing Orders on choosing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be amended. These amendment(s) should ensure that recognition is given to the relevant political parties strength each year and over the years, and to the length of service of the Councillors to be nominated. These amendment(s) should also contain safeguards to ensure that in the event of one political party not having an absolute majority, then the will of the party/parties forming the Council's Executive should not be able to be thwarted by a Mayor from an opposition party using/misusing the casting vote.

Council therefore instructs the relevant Council Officer(s) to bring forward alternative Standing Orders to bring about this change before the next Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen."