Bath and NE Somerset voters reject elected mayor model

Voters in Bath and North East Somerset have rejected the introduction of an elected mayor and chosen instead to retain the current Leader and Cabinet system of governance.

In a referendum last week on how Bath and North East Somerset Council should be run, 30,557 voters backed keeping the existing system of Leader and Cabinet, while 8,054 were in favour of adopting a new system of an elected Mayor and Cabinet. The turnout was 28.97%.

Cllr Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of the Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “I’m delighted that the public have endorsed the Leader and Cabinet model of Government for the Bath & North East Somerset area.

“We will be working hard to deliver our core priorities including improving transport, creating homes and jobs, supporting young and older people alike, and investing in cleaner, greener and healthier communities.”