North Tyneside's Green councillors have tabled a motion calling for a binding referendum on the area's mayoral system, citing concerns over local democracy. The motion asks all councillors to vote to trigger a new public vote on the future of the mayoralty in May 2027, coinciding with the next local elections.
If approved, this would be the third referendum on the post of Mayor, following previous votes in 2001 and 2016, both of which saw the position and the council's current structure maintained.
Concerns over democratic accountability
Green councillor for Whitley Bay North Helen Bell said: "Residents made their choice in 2001 and again in 2016, and that decision deserves respect. But the landscape has changed significantly. We now have a powerful regional mayor for the North East, leaving many people unsure about who is responsible for what."
"National law is moving away from creating more local mayors, and several councils have already decided that concentrating so much power in one person reduces democratic accountability. This is not about party politics or attacking the current Mayor or any former holder of the office."
Proposed options and timeline
Bell added: "It is about giving the people of North Tyneside a clear, binding vote on how they want their council to be run in the future. Holding the referendum on the same day as the local elections in 2027 is the most practical and cost-effective way to do that, and allows any change to be carefully planned for 2029."
The motion states that the choice should be between a directly elected Mayoral structure and a more usual council leader and cabinet system, with a new leader elected by other councillors. If the Mayoral system is removed, the change would take effect at the end of the current Mayor's term in May 2029.
Background and next steps
In the run-up to the Mayoral election in 2025, then-candidate, now incumbent, Karen Clark was in favour of another referendum "in principle", but noted that such elections come at a financial cost.
The motion is expected to be heard at full council on November 26.
