WE have consistently argued that government - nationally and locally - is in need of reinvigoration. Arrogance and complacency have developed in recent years, fuelled by pitifully weak opposition, and leading to a deepening sense of disillusionment.

It is that which has led to this week's referendum on whether Darlington should have an elected mayor. We welcome Thursday's vote because it gives local people an important opportunity to have their say.

In Labour-run Darlington, there has been unhappiness over the handling of major local issues such as the proposed merger of Eastbourne and Hurworth secondary schools, the planned Tesco development, the threatened demolition of the White Horse Hotel, and the Pedestrian Heart project.

They were significant factors in the emergence of the campaign for an elected mayor and Labour losing ten seats in the May elections.

But despite us sharing many of the reservations expressed at the time of those controversies, we remain unconvinced of the wisdom of electing a mayor. The "Yes" campaign has not given us enough positive reasons for believing that putting so much power in the hands of one unknown person would be the right thing to do.

Our view may well be different if there was an obvious independent candidate, like when Middlesbrough elected Ray Mallon.

But in saying "No", we also believe that the controlling Labour group on Darlington Borough Council has to take the warning of the May elections very seriously. It has to listen more carefully, it must work harder to engage with people, it must be more responsive, and there must be changes to the current cabinet system which strangles healthy debate.

There are encouraging signs since May that lessons have been taken on board and, overall, it is hard to argue that Darlington is not a town which is moving forward. In the end, the right decisions on major issues have been taken.

Is the town so badly broken that it needs a radical fix? We think not. But we do believe there is a need for a third way which makes wider use of the talents at the council's disposal. That includes giving opposition parties a greater say and devolving decision-making to the communities which are directly affected.

We have thought long and hard about what is at stake in Darlington this week. We have done our best to encourage the debate because the worst thing that could happen is that public apathy produces a result we live to regret.

On balance, our conclusion is that Darlington should vote "No" to an elected mayor. But a meaningful review of the system, resulting in a more democratic way forward and stronger opposition, would be a worthwhile legacy of the campaign for an elected mayor - regardless of the referendum result.