Reply to an elector

Election of Mayor.

Dear Mr Dawe,

I have been sent a booklet about the Mayoral elections on the 4th May with an introduction by John Hill and also, all the candidates' statements. But no-one explains the fundamentals, so none of it, as it stands, makes sense.

The following arise in my mind:

1. What powers and responsibilities will be taken away from Peterborough Unitary Authority and passed to the new elected Mayor?

2. Since there will be now Combined Authority, will Peterborough still be a Unitary Authority?

3. What will be the relationship between the new Mayor and existing Councils? How will they mesh?

4. Some candidates indicate that this new mayor means greater local democracy, or 'handing power back to the people'. I do not understand how taking power from my local council and handing it to a person (mayor) who lives and works miles away from Peterborough and does not know Peterborough, is going to improve democracy.

5. What part of the PCC's budget is going to be taken away and put under the control of the Mayor?

6. Peterborough and Cambridge are very different places and have very little in common. Is lumping them together going to cause big problems for the Mayor?

7. To what extent are the new Mayor and the new Combined Authority the same thing?

I realize that there is overlap in these questions, but as there is so much that is unclear it is not really possible to know where to start. If you could help clarify the situation, I would be grateful. I have looked at your website and read a good deal of the material there

OK My, Pete Dawe reading of the situation. ( Not what is on the label)

My answer

1. In theory there are no loss of powers by any of the current local authorities
2. The new Mayor has almost no statutory powers. These were squeezed out by the existing councils
3. The relationship between the Mayor and the existing councils will be problematic, as the councils NEVER willingly give up any of their power to say NO to Everything. Cllr Palmer as Mayor is likely be OK with the other Conservative councils, but it will be a nightmare for Cambridge and possibly Peterborough after the next unitary elections
4. There is no additional local democracy on offer
5. If I, Peter Dawe become Mayor, I will seek to empower Community Champions or "mini-mayors" to act like a French style Mairie. I will seek to recruit these from any willing and able councillors, but will look wider if necessary.
6. If I, Peter Dawe become Mayor both the New Mayor and the "Mini-Mayors" will offer progress through leadership, rather than enforcing statutory powers. I.e We will engage with the whole community to work WITH them to solve problems and make Cambridgeshire a better place. Some may find this more democratic than having elected councillors force decisions through, based on 4 yearly votes.
7. Peterborough, Cambridge and indeed the Fens and Huntingdonshire are very different places, I wouldn't have chosen the geography, but the councils negotiated the deal on the basis of this. It is a given. That is why I'm looking to use mini-mayors to ensure policy is suited to every geography.
8. The combined authority is just the old county council dressed up in a new political dress.
9. As Mayor I Peter Dawe, will seek to use the Mayor role to offer mentoring to the "mini-mayors", to return local government to one of trying to make us happier, healthier and wealthier, rather than just using their powers to say NO to almost everything.

Reading between the lines, I think you know exactly what is going on. I see the elected mayor as a one-off opportunity to revolutionise local government, through leadership rather than powers and taxation. I'd say that I have a 30% chance of achieving this, if elected. Electing any of the party political candidates will mean more of the same, at greater expense!

For me to be elected I need votes, not just yours, if you support my answers please email everyone you know in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire with your endorsement