Mayor of Louth Jill Makinson-Sanders suggests changes to way role is elected
A FIRST-TIME mayor has suggested changes should be made to the way the role is elected.
Louth Town Council has always endorsed a tradition that a mayor should then become the town’s deputy mayor the following year.
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CHANGE TO ROLE? Louth’s Mayor Jill Makinson-Sanders has suggested changes should be mage to how the civic leader role is elected.
Most other town council’s such as Horncastle and Skegness, do the exact opposite in that the person who is to be elected mayor, has been the deputy mayor first, gaining experience in the civic role.
The suggestion made by Louth’s Mayor Jill Makinson-Sanders, was met with criticism from her fellow members who have previously been elected for the civic role.
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She said: “I would like us to look at how we select the mayor but also I would like us to look at having a deputy mayor before becoming mayor. I think it would have been helpful to know what I was doing before I became mayor.
“I cannot find anybody else who does it this way.”
Councillor Trevor Marris, who has held the civic privilege twice, said: “Whenever you speak to other councils, they are quite jealous of the way we do it.
“A mayor who becomes deputy can give advice and help and can step in at a function, already knowing what to do. If it is a deputy mayor who has not done it before, we will have a problem.”
Councillor Fran Treanor agreed, stating: “It’s the mayor’s role to set out their own stall.”
Another former mayor, Councillor Margaret Ottaway said: “It is common sense. You represent the town, meeting people and knowing about your town.
“We are alright as we are.”
Councillors Laura Stephenson and Sue Locking were in favour of changing the format.
Councillor Stephenson said: “For someone who has not been mayor before you are just thrown in the deep end. If it is changed you are ready for the role.”
Councillor Locking said: “There are very few councils that do it this way.
“Those who have been mayor in the past and become mayor again, know what is going on and the protocol.
“It is more difficult for someone who has not been mayor before.”
The council will further debate this proposal at a future meeting.
8 Comments
by Whiley45
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 9:07AM
“Well said Bolshie! The point I was really making was that in these hard times the important things are not the pomp and ceremony but getting things done.”
by Bolshie
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:00PM
“Whiley45 - I think you'll find that rubbish removal and potholes come under Lincolnshire County Council and not Louth Town Council. As far as I can see (from their annual report 11/12) Louth Town Council's main responsibility is managing the cemetry and providing allotments. It also acts as a consultee in matters such as policing and maintains some CCTV cameras and a few litter bins - oh and they provide the Christmas lights and organise them being switched on. Yes that really is worth a mention in the annual report, Louth must be buzzing!
Quite why this needs 21 councillors and 4 employees is a bit beyond me.
Oppio - the councillors aren't paid per se, only the 2 part time office staff and the 2 cemetry staff (total cost £75K per annum). Arguably those costs would shift to LCC if the town council perished so no realistic saving there. Presumably the other stuff the councillors spend money on would still need doing so LCC would need to spend it so again no real saving. The accounts show that from the £195K the Town Council spent in 11/12 £114K was 'other costs' - as everything else is visible I assume this 'invisible' amount must arise from the activity of councillors - expenses etc. So - getting rid of the elected council would save £114K pa that could be spent on other things - but in the county not neccessarily in Louth, and the opportunity cost of that is the loss of the town's public 'voice' on county planning committees etc. Personally (were I a Ludensian) I'd prefer to see a reduced council with a clear mandate and greater public involvement in what they do - perhaps a voluntary oversight committee to approve councillors activity attracting expenses payments, and other voluntary committees to cover policing, planning etc - leaving (say) 7 councillors (1 per ward) to be the public face of the town at district/county meetings and act as a conduit for information back to the town's residents.
Having now looked at it in a bit more detail I can see exactly why Ms Makinson-Sanders has time to worry about protocol and appearances - she has a non-job! Though she doubtless has a vastly different opinion to mine and feels really good about what she does.”
by oppio
Monday, February 25 2013, 11:28AM
“Well said Whiley45, just think what could be done with the money saved by abolishing not only the mayor but also the twenty-one Louth Town Councillors who act like a private members club and who spend our money on daft things to try to make themselves look grand!”
by Whiley45
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:49AM
“We are not really interested in Mayors anyway. Just get the rubbish taken away and the potholes filled. That will do it!”
by Bolshie
Saturday, February 23 2013, 8:53PM
“I really can't see much difference between a 1st year Mayor 'mentored' by last year's and a year as Deputy learning the ropes from a 'sitting' Mayor who has had a year to adjust. Surely Louth Council have stuff they could more usefully discuss at taxpayers' expense?”
by moribound
Saturday, February 23 2013, 6:46PM
“This is the woman who entered her mayoral year as a sausage! Perhaps a probationary year would have been a good idea!”
by Pru_Freda
Saturday, February 23 2013, 6:43PM
“Might it be because she has never been a mayor before?
Why does it say "other town council's ..." though?”
by oppio
Saturday, February 23 2013, 4:26PM
“Why does this say "A first-time mayor"...Are we getting this mayor for a second year, to ease in the new arrangements she wants?”