Mayor? Leader? Who cares? Public apathy over top role

Instead, Warwick District Council, which is responsible for refuse collection, parking, housing and planning, will be governed by a ‘new style’ leader and cabinet executive after next May’s elections.

In a public consultation running from August 1 to October 22, just 53 members of the public voted, along with responses from town and parish councils.

The council, which is currently led by Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) and an executive committee, voted on Wednesday to follow the public’s lead. Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Crown) called the decision “the best of a bad job”, adding: “We really engaged.”

In responses, one member of the public said that no matter what option was chosen, the title of Mayor should not be used, but that the title of Leader was not high profile enough and suggested the title District Mayor.

Another said the current style of leadership was a joke, but that both of the proposed options provided the same system with different names. One requested a public presentation to explain the options.

There was no written support for the elected Mayor option, which would require a referendum to establish whether there was support.