Coventry people to stump up nearly £100K for mayor vote

It’s set to cost £98,000 for Coventry to decide whether it wants a Boris Johnson-style mayor.



The government has come up with estimates for the cost of the referendum in May next year.

The city has been chosen as one of 12 across the UK that should be offered the chance to have a mayor instead of a council leader or a chief executive.

Ministers believe a mayor would provide stronger leadership and help improve local economies and tackle social problems. They would also be more closely monitored and be directly chosen by local people.

If Coventry votes to have a mayor next year a shadow mayor from the council would be brought in for a year and would be replaced by the elected mayor in May 2013.

Coventry councillor Ed Ruane says he’s angry the government isn’t footing the bill for the ballots:

“This is absolutely scandalous. The Government has cut Coventry City Council’s budget but now expects us to pay for a Mayoral referendum which the Government is insisting Coventry holds.

“I am happy for the people of Coventry to decide, but we did not ask to have a referendum – why should we pay for it?

“Right now if you ask my constituents would you rather pay for the social care of an elderly citizen or fork out tens of thousands on a referendum I know which they would choose.”“It is an utter disgrace and the Government should rethink these proposals”

And as we all know, government cost estimates are famously accurate