More money and power for Hackney Mayor?

Mayor Pipe: "Committed to leading the Labour admininistration in the borough in which I live." Photograph: Hackney Council

Cash. As you may have noticed, there is a lack of it. And Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, says that this means “bloated” councils should be looking at making savings.

Could that include combining the roles of elected mayor and chief executive? For some councils, the answer appears to be yes. Last month respected political blogger Iain Dale flagged up a story from Rugby about the local council leader in that far-flung borough taking over as chief executive of the council in addition to continuing in his role as leader.

The move was praised by Pickles. Dale pointed out that there were problems with combining the two roles; he said it would be akin to Jim Hacker, the prime minister in TV comedy Yes, Prime Minister, taking over the role of Sir Humphrey – the senior civil servant in the political show. “Leading a council and being its chief executive are two very different roles,” he writes. “And although I have never been a councillor I just cannot see how it would work.”

For an example of how those in power have managed to move seemlessly from one role to another, look to Russia, where Vladimir Putin was first President and then became Prime Minister.

But could any of this happen in Hackney? In an interview with top London blogger Blood and Property earlier this year, the leader of Hackney Council, Mayor Jules Pipe, was asked what he might like to do in the future, jobs-wise.

He ruled out standing for a parliamentary seat, and said he was also not interested in standing for the European Parliament, the London Assembly or the London mayoralty. But he said he was “committed to leading the Labour admininistration in the borough in which I live”.

Might this mean combining his current role with that of chief executive? The very prospect of having more power and a bigger salary might seem attractive, but some other future arrangement might work better for the mayor, perhaps with some kind of deputy role in the mix.

In light of Pickles’ initiative, the Hackney Citizen asked the council if there were plans to combine the roles of council leader and chief executive. The council replied that there were no such plans. However, they also said that they were following the national debate with interest.