Councillors set to vote to scrap city mayor role

Councillors are set to vote next week to scrap the role of elected mayor in Leicester.

The post, held by Labour's Sir Peter Soulsby, would be abolished from 9 May 2027, if councillors back a proposed change to the political structure of Leicester City Council.

A report said the authority would switch to a conventional leader and cabinet model of decision making under the change.

Soulsby said he "fully expected" members would vote to support the change.

"I say this with mixed feelings but it is clear that the government is of the view that the tide has gone out on the elected mayor role," Soulsby said.

The role was established in Leicester in 2011, and Soulsby is the only person to have held it, having been elected four times

Soulsby has been responsible for setting city council budgets and choosing priorities for key public services, from social care to housing and transport and regeneration in the city.

However, opposition councillors have argued the post concentrates too much power in the hands of one person when it comes to decision making and a change was needed to return influence to members.

Conservative and Green city councillors proposed a motion to the council to end the mayoral system in September, but it was voted down by a Labour majority of councillors in the chamber.

Soulsby said he now expected Labour's 32 councillors to support the change at a full council meeting on 19 November.

The role was set to be abolished in any case under a major shake-up of council boundaries known as local government reorganisation.

However, ministers have withdrawn proposals to change Leicestershire's political map and are set to make a fresh announcement around Christmas.

"That delay is intensely frustrating," Soulsby said. "It is clear in Leicester that we need to get on with making the change."

The government has said elections to choose city councillors in Leicester will go ahead in May 2027 but there will not be a mayoral election.

Under the proposed leader and cabinet structure, councillors from the party that wins the May election will select a council leader to run the authority and the leader will then choose his cabinet.

Soulsby said he hoped to be selected by Labour to contest a council seat, which would open the door to him seeking election as council leader - a role he previously held between 1981 and 1994, and from 1996 to 1999.

Asked if he would like to return for another term as leader, he said: "There are so many hurdles to get even near that point that it would be cheeky for me to be thinking about it."

Ministers are also looking to set up a new strategic mayoral role which would cover Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The regional mayor would have devolved powers and funding from the government to make decisions on transport, housing and adult education.

The new mayor would separately to council leaders whatever shape those authorities take in the future.

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.