So, let’s see if I’ve got this right. Some 200,000+ residents in Bolton elect 60 Councillors.

Of these, only four (The Executive) make all the local decisions.

Going up one level, one of these four (the Leader) has one vote out of ten on decisions made by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities on matters controlled by them.

Now we are to have an Elected Mayor imposed on top of AGMA who will have extended powers in areas such as transport, skills, business support, housing and planning. (Where does this leave our multi-million pound Core Strategy?) His decisions can only be challenged by a two thirds majority of the ten Leaders. Advance democracy or is it retreat.

Paul Richardson

Ripon Close

Little Lever