In next week's referendum, Darlington voters will make a momentus decision: should they have a directly-elected mayor to run the council?, ahead of Friday's big debate, which The Northern Echo is organising, the "yes" and "no" campaigns outline their cases.

DARLINGTON is a fine town with a vibrant community and voluntary sector. In the past ten years, we have seen enormous improvements around the borough, writes Alan Charlton.

Millions of pounds have been invested in our children's education, in projects such as the new college, the Haughton Education Village, and the re-building of schools around the borough.

Jobs are being created at Morton Palms and Lingfield Point.

The Eastbourne Sports Complex has been built and the Dolphin Centre given a makeover.

South Park has been brought back to its former splendour.

With the completion of the Pedestrian Heart scheme, the town centre is once again the showcase for Darlington, with many people appreciating the new positioning of the market stalls. There is still much to be done - but we should value and be proud of what we have.

Our mayoral system

There is an unbroken line of mayors in Darlington stretching back 140 years.

It is almost unique in that it is non-political and each year a mayor is appointed who is the longest serving councillor irrespective of political party. The role is filled by an experienced councillor with a real knowledge of the town's activities.

Our mayor supports many charities, where the magnificent mayoral chain brings a dignity and pleasure to many members of this important sector whose work with those in need is invaluable.

Our borough council

Our councillors are democratically elected every four years.

The leaders of each political group elect their own leader, and the cabinet is made up of members of the largest political group.

The council leader cannot take decisions on his own, but needs the agreement of the cabinet or full council meetings.

Oversight is provided by scrutiny committees that include members of all political parties. Councillors have to work together, and with the community.

So we have democratically-elected councillors, a historic mayoral system and a town as good as any. Why should we want to change this?

The "yes" campaign

It took the campaigners who wanted a referendum 12 months to collect just 3,800 signatures as they tried to trigger a poll. In fact, in the end it was the council itself which approved the referendum, so the matter could be settled once and for all.

The "yes" campaign has paraded a tame version of Lady Godiva through the town, but have not given one positive meaningful reason for having an elected mayor. How can an elected mayor improve our economy, schools or roads?

Elected mayors: the facts

There are 418 councils which could have elected mayors, but to date only 34 have held a referendum. Twenty-two towns like Darlington voted "no".

In six of the last seven referenda held, people have rejected the idea of establishing an authoritarian figure at the town hall.

The elected mayor movement has run out of steam. In at least four places where there are elected mayors at present (Doncaster, Stoke, Lewisham and Newham), communities are trying to force a further referendum to return to Darlington's current model.

Concerns about the elected mayoral system across all four boroughs include:

* It concentrates too much power in one person's hands (an elected dictatorship),

* Ceremonial mayors are lost,

* It represents the Americanisation of local government - personalities before public service,

* There are substantial extra costs,

* Of the 12 elected mayors, nine are party politicians. Seven of them were either the council leader before they became mayor or a party group leader.

Of the three independents, one edited the local newspaper, one was already a national figure and one was a football mascot. Not the high-flying business people that some rather naively think will flock to the position.

The post of council leader has been replaced with a highly-paid politician who rides roughshod over the council.

IN addition, under new Government powers, a referendum cannot be held to reverse having an elected mayor for ten years.

So, if we do not vote "no" on September 27, Darlington will be stuck with an elected mayor until 2017 at the earliest.

While we do not know who the elected mayor might be, we can be certain that the salary and costs of the position will spiral.

The highest paid elected mayor at present has a salary of £78,231, and most earn between £60,000 and £75,000. Then there are the inevitable employment costs and expenses.

Elected mayors often appoint political assistants and "advisors" taking the costs to more than £100,000 per year. In places like Hackney, cabinet members pocket over £40,000 annually.

An elected mayor: another white elephant

In 2004, 82 per cent of us voted against the proposal to have a directly-elected regional assembly in the North-East. That proposed assembly was seen as a white elephant, creating a new layer of expensively-paid politicians.

An elected mayor for Darlington would be another white elephant, costing Darlington taxpayers dear, with no added benefit. It is only with a low turnout that the "yes" campaigners can win.

So please use your vote - it is a major decision which will affect all of us who enjoy living and working in Darlington.

We do not want a highly-paid dictatorial political appointment, or to sign the death warrant of our ceremonial mayor.

Vote "no" on September 27.