Accrington Web - View Single Post

Rowlf · 15-02-2017, 11:50

A word of warning for you who live in the borough of Hyndburn. Before long you may be asked to sign a petition which if the right number of signatures are obtained will force the council to hold a referendum for a directly elected mayor.
The person behind this is a man called Geoffery Berg who lives over Manchester somewhere. He has used this tactic in a number of places. He is a property owner and does not like the new rules concerning landlords which are meant to make them keep their properties in better repair etc. There is a question mark over how these signatures are obtained with dubious promises being made .
The law states that if the number of signatures are a certain amount the council have no choice but to hold a referendum which obviously is costly. The estimated cost of a new mayor is £240.000 over two years. Burnley have been forced into this and will have a referendum in May. Mr Berg is now turning his sights on Blackburn and Hyndburn have also been mentioned. The MPs for Burnley and Blackburn are raising the matter in Parliament as he seems to be using this ploy soley for his own interests and at a time when the hard strapped councils have enough on their plates without having to fork out for a referendum. It certainly seems very unfair when he does not even live in the towns he is targeting. I will certainly be voting against a mayor in May.

15-02-2017, 11:50	#1
Rowlf Full Member+ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Burnley Posts: 676 Liked: 354 times Rep Power: 8337	Directly elected Mayor A word of warning for you who live in the borough of Hyndburn. Before long you may be asked to sign a petition which if the right number of signatures are obtained will force the council to hold a referendum for a directly elected mayor. The person behind this is a man called Geoffery Berg who lives over Manchester somewhere. He has used this tactic in a number of places. He is a property owner and does not like the new rules concerning landlords which are meant to make them keep their properties in better repair etc. There is a question mark over how these signatures are obtained with dubious promises being made . The law states that if the number of signatures are a certain amount the council have no choice but to hold a referendum which obviously is costly. The estimated cost of a new mayor is £240.000 over two years. Burnley have been forced into this and will have a referendum in May. Mr Berg is now turning his sights on Blackburn and Hyndburn have also been mentioned. The MPs for Burnley and Blackburn are raising the matter in Parliament as he seems to be using this ploy soley for his own interests and at a time when the hard strapped councils have enough on their plates without having to fork out for a referendum. It certainly seems very unfair when he does not even live in the towns he is targeting. I will certainly be voting against a mayor in May.