[Rowlf]

Since the 2000 Local Government Act all local authorities have had the choice to stick with how they run their council or have a directly elected mayor. They had the right to choose which without a referendum and obviously the vast majority have not changed to an elected mayor. But if a petition of over 10,000 signatures is handed in the council are required by law to hold a referendum which is exactly what has happened in Burnley. Mr Berg has brought this about at a couple of other places too and now because Blackburn council have extended their licencing to include Darwen where Mr Berg owns some property he says after the Burnley referendum in May he will bring one about at Blackburn. The large cities are going for an elected mayor because with one the government have promised them more money and more say in how it is spent.