Directly Elected Mayors

Since NLGN was founded, we have been closely associated with the development of the mayoral agenda. As an organisation working to support the modernisation of UK local government and interested in strengthening local leadership and civic engagement, we have long viewed elected mayors as a possible means of developing these aims.

Once the mayoral option was formally introduced in the 2000 Local Government Act, NLGN began supporting and advising local mayoral campaigns, and tracking local developments. After the election of the ‘First Eleven’ mayors in May and October 2002, our focus turned to working with the mayors to understand and disseminate the lessons of the model in practice.

The Mayoral Forum
With twelve directly elected mayors in place, NLGN has established a Mayoral Forum to offer practical support to this group.

The Forum is concerned with the development of relationships between mayors, chief executives, other senior officers and key agencies; responding to needs and requirements arising from regular discussions on policy and strategy; and ‘action learning’ through collective visits by the elected mayors to one anothers authorities. We also aim to host visits from elected mayors across the world.

For further details, contact Lucy Mott on 020 7357 0082 or email lucy.mott@nlgn.org.uk

Media enquiries to James Hulme on 020 7357 0116

Frank Branston, Bedford BC
Independent

Martin Winter, Doncaster MBC
Labour

Stuart Drummond, Hartlepool BC
Independent

Jules Pipe, LB Hackney
Labour

Steve Bullock, LB Lewisham
Labour

Sir Robin Wales, LB Newham
Labour

Tony Eggington, Mansfield DC
Independent

Ray Mallon, Middlesbrough Council
Independent

John Harrison, North Tyneside MBC
Labour

Mark Meredith, Stoke-on-Trent CC
Labour

Nicholas Bye, Torbay
Conservative

Dorothy Thornhill, Watford BC
Liberal Democrat

Source: New Local Government Network, June 2005