What has happened to our city leaders?

“You have to be careful with what you wish for if an elected mayor is thought to be the panacea.

If it could be guaranteed that the person would be an independent-minded individual with no political party allegiance, with experience of successfully running a large organisation, a 'can do' attitude, a determination to ensure the city succeeds on every level and with leadership qualities then it might well work.

What would be more likely is a dreary list of potential mayors including a variety of independents, often one-issue gallopers, and the rest consisting of time-serving party hacks expected to follow the party line if elected.

Look no further than Bristol. After decades of inept local governance by all the main parties (at one time or another) - Plymouth seems to be a well-run city in comparison - a derisory number of voters turned out at the ballot box and by the tiniest majority decided that Bristol would have an elected mayor.

The mayoral election takes place in November and you wouldn't want any of the 20 or so
who have submiited their names (including all the political party nominees) or expressed an interest in standing to run the local jumble sale.”

“No comments allowed on airport story again confirming that SHH have the Herald and the Council in their pocket.

Only a matter of time before SHH build lots more houses on the land on which they only have a lease.

What a farce.”

“So, let me get this right. The Chamber of Commerce and the council agree that the airport is a dead duck and no-one should invesst any money in it. And because of the agreement of these experts in business and management, Bill Snow thinks they are all prats...and, of course, all the pro-Viable punters are obvioulsy right.
Hmm...that takes a lot of thinking about. Bill, with that sort of article, you should have been a councillor (by your definition, that is).”

“An elected mayor is not a good idea. They elected one in Leicester who has just awarded himself a pay rise in excess of 70%, whilst public sector workers both within the council and elsewhere are either having a pay freeze, a pay cut or losing their jobs altogether. He has also sanctioned cuts to council services whilst receiving this huge pay rise. This is all by a man who is a member of the Labour party. (The mayor in Leicester earns around £100k per annum).”

“@jennyplym

With the best possible respect to you, but I do not believe in this elected mayor idea - it is just an extension of the cabinet form of council rule.

It is alright electing a person into a position of power but what is to stop that person going off on his/her own power trip. Maybe a power of recall could ease this problem.

We have all witnessed Tudor Evans' anguish at not being allowed to have a say on the incinerator when he was excluded - the decisions made in this city must be made by as broad a spread of representation as possible - that means by the whole democratically elected council.

But you are correct on the sell off of the airport - we have seen so much of Plymouth being sold off to vested interests, including our council houses.

Drakes Island, Drakes Circus, Home Park (more shenanigans to come with Brent and a skating rink) Central Park - we are seeing our city sold off bit by bit.

It is searingly ironic when we hear so much about cohesive communities - our communities are being torn apart.”

“What are you talking about? There wouldn't be a problem building new roads, they've already put in one new road:
http://tinyurl.com/c4zw5zw
The other road they would join onto the Morgan road roundabout.

I'm against their plans, but there would be no problem with roads. I also don't see how you think a Mayor would help.”

“Well I know several people who have now asked under the Freedon of Information Act to find out who owns the Airport Land as it seems SHH do, who wrote the Lease and who gains form it also they have ALL asked to see the whole Lease. Commercially Sensitive does not apply now as SHH closed the Airport so it cannot be Commercially Sensitive.

We all know that it was the last Labour Administration who drew up the Lease what we all need is to know WHY if you do some simple research there is not anywhere another Lease like this anywhere.

By keep refusing the Herald and Private taxpayers sight of this Lease is begs the question why are they keeping it secret? Also I know from next month many people will be out collecting signatures in an effort to get 9.040 to trigger a referendum for an Elected Mayor that would take the power away from Elected Leader's such as Tudor Evans and Viv Pengelly a new Mayor will secure and safeguard the Airport site for future generations, you cannot build housing there unless you put in new roads etc, cost would be approx $300Million and would ahve to go through the Valley or above it on stilts Environmentalist would never allow it, we the people own all the property and land in Plymouth the Council are just the Custodians well they are supposed to be, time they realised it. The Council own nothing we all own it collectively.”

“£90k sounds about right for those houses in North Prospect.”

“With the rancid bunch of councillors we've had for at least 25 years it's no wonder so few people vote in local elections these days.”

“Someone who owned their home has been given a PCH house near me, maybe they didn't get any money, but a house instead.”