ELECTED MAYOR - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What would an Elected Mayor have powers to do?

An Elected Mayor would be responsible for the Executive Functions of the City Council and for making most of the day to day decisions as to the running of the organisation.

What would the role of Full Council be?

Full Council would be responsible for setting the Budget & Policy Framework for the City Council and a number of specific issues related to the Constitution, Committees, Members' Allowances, byelaws and civic honours.

Would the council still be required to have 90 Councillors?

Yes. Local Councillors would still carry out their community roles representing their constituents and undertaking casework, together with scrutinising the decisions of the executive, similar to the current Leader and Cabinet system.

Who would appoint the Cabinet and would this require to be made up of Councillors?

The Cabinet (Executive) would be appointed by the Elected Mayor. The Cabinet would be made up of two or more Councillors.

Can the Elected Mayor appoint more than one Deputy Mayor?

The Elected Mayor may appoint up to two Deputy Mayors from the Councillors appointed to the Cabinet (Executive).

How would the Elected Mayor be held to account?

The Elected Mayor would attend full Council and the Council. The Council would still have powers to agree the Budget & Policy Framework.

When the Elected Mayor makes a decision, the implementation may only occur after a period of time has passed to allow Councillors who are not Cabinet Members to review the decision (known as 'call-in').

The Elected Mayor would outline any reasons for the decisions to the Select Committee and would be able to consider any proposals put forward by Councillors.

Can an Elected Mayor be removed from Office?

The Elected Mayor once elected remains in office for a period of four years. It is a possibility that if a valid petition signed by five percent of the electorate was received to hold a referendum on a change to governance arrangements and dependent on the outcome of the referendum the governance arrangements maybe changed.

In accordance with the usual circumstances the Elected Mayor would cease to hold office if he/she resigned or was disqualified from holding office.

Would there be any change to the civic and ceremonial role of the Lord Mayor?

The title and style of both 'Lord Mayor' and 'Deputy Lord Mayor' may continue to be used if the council so wishes. This is because the city has Charter status.

Would the role of Leader of the Council remain?

No - the functions of the Leader of the Council would become the functions of the Elected Mayor.

Would there still need to be Leaders of each of the Political Groups?

Yes. Each Political Group would still have a leader including a leader of the majority group.

What needs to happen to enable a move to an Elected Mayor model of Governance and what are the timescales?

As set out in the Localism Act 2011, the City Council is required to pass a resolution at a meeting of Full Council by simple majority supporting a change in its Governance arrangements to the Elected Mayor model.

There are no requirements for any consultation to be undertaken and the Council is not obliged to conduct a referendum.

If the Council agrees to change its governance arrangements it is anticipated that an election for an elected mayor would be held on 3 May 2012.

Will the Election timetable differ in any way from the Local Election?

No, it will be exactly the same. Notice of Election will be published no later than Tuesday, 27th March and nominations will close at noon on Wednesday, 4th April.

How many electors will need to subscribe to the nomination paper?

The Nomination Paper must be subscribed by two electors as proposer and seconder, and by twenty-eight other electors as assenting to the nomination.

Does a fee need to be paid to stand for Election?

Yes, a person will not be validly nominated unless the sum of £500 is deposited (either by cash or banker's draft) with their nomination papers or by close of the nomination process (12 noon on Wednesday 4 April).

Are there any qualifications to stand for Election?

To stand at the Mayoral Elections the candidate must be qualified by being a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of another Member State of the European Community who has attained the age of 18 and that, they meet one of the following: -

Registered on the electoral roll in Liverpool
During the whole of the last 12 months, occupied as owner or tenant of premises within the City
Their principal or only place of work during the previous 12 months have been within Liverpool
They have resided during the whole of the last 12 months at an address within the City.

What process would be used for the count of votes cast in a Mayoral Election?

The process is known as Supplementary Voting.

On the ballot paper the elector can cast two votes. One for their first choice of candidate and one for their second choice candidate (if they so wish).

Votes are cast in the normal way, but they may express up to 2 preferences by marking 'X' next to the candidate(s) they wish to vote for.

At the Count, all of the first choice votes are counted and:

- if a candidate has 50% plus one or more of the votes cast then they are elected

- if no-one has this majority, then the 2 candidates with the most votes at this stage go into a 'head to head' count

- all first choice votes for the above 2 candidates are placed to one side and all of the second choice votes are now counted for these 2 candidates

- the total of these votes (2nd choice preferences) are added to the first -choice preferences and this will give an outright result for the candidate with the most votes after the 2 Counts have taken place

- the vote seeks to ensure that the person elected has the support of an absolute majority (50% plus one) of votes remaining in the contest.

TIMETABLE

7 February Liverpool City Council voted to alter constitution and move to mayoral model

By 27 March Deadline for publication of Notice of Election

4 April, noon Nominations for mayor close

3 May Mayoral and local government elections take place

7 May Elected Mayor assumes office

23 May City Council annual general meeting