PUTTING power in the hands of one person will be debated at a Swindon Council meeting on Thursday.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) will put forward a motion in support of electing a mayor for Swindon.

The former mayor is backing the calls of residents who have launched an online petition supporting the election of a mayor to take over the role of council leader.

Coun Pajak said: “It would give residents a say in who controls Swindon instead of relying on the current system where the cabinet picks the leader of the council.

“It also means you could elect a mayor who is not a politician.

“It is more democratic, as at the moment residents don’t get a say on who is on the cabinet.”

Under the current system the ruling party of the council – the Conservatives – decide who is leader.

In order for Swindon to adopt the system, which currently operates in London under Boris Johnson, five per cent of people on the electoral roll have to get behind it or the majority of councillors have to vote in favour.

Roger Ogle, the publisher of Community magazine Link, has set up an online petition to lobby support for a referendum to be held in the town for a powerful mayor under the Local Government Act 2000.

The online petition cites an Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) report, stating elected mayors are capable leaders who have led to improvements in other towns.

Deputy leader Fionuala Foley said: “I am not in favour of an elected mayor but I look forward to the debate on Thursday.

“Our current system where councillors can vote out a leader or deputy leader at any time is a better way than electing mayors for four years, and you can’t get rid of them even if they are rubbish.

“I prefer the current system, as the cabinet represents the views of the majority of residents.”

North Swindon MP Michael Wills wrote a column in the Adver two weeks ago stating the idea of a directly elected mayor was “compelling”.

“The evidence shows that directly elected mayors are more visible than councillors and give residents a greater sense that there is someone accountable for what happens in local government,” he wrote.

The online petition can be found at http://www.talkswindon.org/petition.