February 15, 2001 15:39: PROPOSALS for an elected mayor in Watford have been labelled undemocratic and potentially corrupt by the leader of the borough's Liberal Democrats.

The likelihood of an elected mayor increased last week, when the results of a public consultation on the issue were released which paved the way for a referendum for an elected mayor.

In January, a form was sent out to every household in the borough by Watford Council, as part of its public consultation on how the structure of local government could change. Almost 2,800 forms were returned.

Under the Local Government Act 2000, local authorities are obliged to change the way they make decisions.

Watford Council has four options: an elected mayor with a cabinet, an elected mayor with a council manager, a leader with a cabinet, or a streamlined committee system.

Results of the consultation showed 52 per cent of people wanted a referendum for an elected mayor, who would work in a full-time, paid role.

The consultation results were discussed at a meeting of the council's policy and resources committee on Monday, February 12.

Liberal Democrat group leader Iain Sharpe, a member of the council's scrutiny panel, which looked at the new constitution, wrote a minority report, read out to the meeting.

He criticised the proposed constitution of Watford Council, arguing the elected mayor would have excessive powers, which would increase secrecy, reduce open government and enable councillors and citizens to be sidelined in the decision-making process.

Among the issues Councillor Sharpe claimed were dangerous are powers for the mayor to take decisions in private, without calling a cabinet meeting.

Councillor Sharpe said: "This would curtail debate, deny opposition parties the power to speak against decisions as they are made, and prevent the press and public from being present when decisions are taken.

"The mayor could become a quasi-dictator, with no obligation to pay attention to any other views. It could be a recipe, not only for bad decisions, but for corruption."

Leader of the council Vince Muspratt said: "If you look through the proposed constitution, there are a number of checks and balances.

"Above all else, the mayor is working with a cabinet, not as an individual, and procedural changes such as having a forward plan, where, every four months, the mayor must publish all major decisions to be taken means everything is more open.

"At the moment, most decisions are made in the group meetings behind closed doors.

"Local government must change it is out of touch and, at present, people are not interested in it. If there is a mayor, they can elect them and hold them responsible.

"It makes it more accountable. The mayor is elected by everyone, and people will know who to blame. At the moment people blame "the council" without knowing who is really making the decisions.

"We are giving people the choice by having a referendum. If they don't want a mayor, they can vote against it."

Councillor Sharpe said the Liberal Democrats would campaign in Watford to secure a 'no' vote in any referendum.

Councillors voted to refer decisions on the structure changes to a full council on Wednesday, February 28.

Caroline Graham