Government steps up the process for an elected Manchester Mayor

Mancunians are to be asked their views on whether they should have an elected mayor.

Manchester,along with 11 other English cities is to be asked to contribute its views on what powers it would like an elected mayor to be able to exercise on its behalf.

The move follows the Coalition Agreement which set out the Government's commitment to create directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities outside London, subject to confirmatory referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors.

Leicester has recently elected a Mayor. The Government is now planning for referendums to take place in 11 other cities - Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield - in May 2012.

Where people vote in favour, the city will move to an elected mayor.

Rather than imposing a standard set of powers says cities Minister Greg Clark, the Government is launching a consultation to give local people a say over what they would want a mayor to be able to do on their behalf.

The consultation invites people who live and work in the 12 cities to contribute their views on the proposed approach for giving powers to city mayors, the powers that should be transferred, and on how mayors can best be subject to local scrutiny.

Mr Clark said:

"English cities aren't just home to millions of people; they are cultural powerhouses and economic dynamos. Cities will play a crucial role in driving and sustaining our economic recovery, and I will do everything in my power to help them thrive.