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"Let the People Decide" is a campaign for a referendum on how Kettering Borough should be governed into the future.

Q. Why is the way Kettering is governed being changed?

A. Central Government now requires all local councils to streamline decision-making by putting it in the hands of a small executive or cabinet. The theory is that the fewer people that are involved in making a decision, the better the decision is and the faster it is made.

Q. How was Kettering governed before?

A. In the past decisions have been made by committees. These committees included members of all political persuasions proportionate to the number of members elected.

Q. What options for change did the Council have to choose from?

A. Open to Kettering there are broadly three choices:

1. A leader with a cabinet, chosen by the majority political party (which in Kettering is Labour)

2. A mayor with a cabinet drawn from the council, with the mayor being elected by the whole electorate.

3. A mayor with a manager and no cabinet, again with the mayor elected by the whole electorate, but the manager is appointed.

Q. What choice did Kettering Borough Council make?

A. The council has decided to go for a leader with a cabinet of his/her choice.

Q. What is wrong with the Council's decision to go for a leader with a cabinet?

A. A great deal of power of decision-making and patronage is being put in the hands of one individual. That individual's party (Labour) only obtained 45 per cent of the votes at the last election on a 36 per cent poll (or only 16 per cent of the total electorate) and did not have any mandate to do this.

Q. What can I do about it?

A. The Government has provided for a referendum to be held to determine the method of government in local authorities like Kettering. The majority party of the Council has decided not to hold a referendum. However, a petition from 5 per cent of the electorate can force them to hold a referendum on whether such a powerful leader should be elected by all the electorate rather tha chosen by the Labour Party. Sign the petition if you care about democracy in Kettering.

Q. What option is "Let The People Decide" in favour of?

A. We are in favour of a mayor with a cabinet drawn from the council, with the mayor being elected by the whole electorate as we feel this is the option that will best represent members of all political persuasions in decision-making.

Published and Promoted by Christopher Nelson, 24 Richmond Avenue, Kettering on behalf of Christopher Groome, 1 Preston Court, Burton Latimer, Kettering. Printed and Hosted by NTLWorld, NTL Group Limited, NTL House, Bartley Wood Business Park, Hook, Hampshire.