'Let's have a referendum over town manager issue' (From Gazette & Herald)

'Let's have a referendum over town manager issue'

A MALTON town councillor has called for a referendum on whether there should be a town centre manger for Malton and Norton.

The call comes from Coun Gerry Cooper, who believes that the town councils should fulfil the role of the town centre manger.

In addition, he questions the need for such a post: "Where is the evidence of Malton and Norton doing badly? Have you tried recently to get through Malton on a Friday afternoon?"

Coun Cooper feels strongly that people should have a chance to say what they think about such an important issue as a town centre manager. He believes the public does not speak out, not because of apathy but because no one takes any notice of what people in the town say.

"As a consequence, it's all flim flam of who consults with whom," he said.

"Democracy isn't much, but it's all we have got and we should guard it.

"This is why the referendum idea is so important. The public voice is constantly overruled and ignored."

On the surface, it would appear Coun Cooper may not have much support for a referendum.

In Norton, town mayor Coun Keith Mennell said he preferred not to comment on the referendum issue. Malton mayor Coun Ann Hopkinson did not comment on the possibility of a referendum. She did say, however, she was coming round more to the idea of a manager.

Former Malton mayor Jean Brown was an original opponent of the town centre manager scheme. She said: "I am not necessarily in favour of a referendum on everything, it can be an imposition. But the Town Centre Management Company is completely unrepresentative."

The Yorkshire Association of Local Councils director Ian Strong said that, in certain circumstances, referendums were to be encouraged.

"They can be the nearest thing to local democracy," he said. The trouble was that instead of using them for legitimate local issues, such as town centre management, people often tried to hijack them for national issues such as the Euro.

"Town centre management may well be appropriate (for a referendum). It would help the town to focus and could be a very, very useful tool to take the issue forward."

This is not the first time Coun Cooper has called for a referendum on the issue of the town centre manager. On his first attempt, he gathered ten names of Malton electors who supported a referendum and took the list to Ryedale District Council.

There, he says he was told by a council officer that referendums could not be granted on demand by anyone who came in off the street.

"I am not anyone," said Coun Cooper. "I am a properly elected council member. I fail to understand why I was not given a fair hearing."

A call for a referendum has to come from a parish meeting. Under the 1972 Local Government Act, a parish meeting can be called by:

the town or parish council chairman

any two parish or town councillors from that council

six local electors from the town or parish.

At such a meeting, ten electors can call for a referendum poll.

The results of a referendum are not binding on the town, said Mr Strong, but the results were a real test of public opinion.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, June 27, 2002