Localism Bill: Letter from Andrew Adonis to Eric Pickles

In this letter, Lord Adonis presses for the office of elected mayor to be given greater powers over matters including planning and policing before referenda take place in 11 English cities.

He says that this will be an important factor in persuading people to vote for the new governance model. In addition to the call for more powers, the letter also presses for the referenda to be staged over two years, with Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol voting first in May 2012.