That the powers of the new lord mayor of Newcastle City Council have been curtailed ("Power strip", Newcastle Herald, 10/10) does not reflect badly on Ross Kerridge, but on the previous lord mayor's power over the elected council. This lack of transparency was an election issue.
If the powers that have just been rescinded are inconvenient and inconsistent, why were they put in place in the first place? The previous lord mayor had the numbers in council to pass whatever motion that seemed appropriate or convenient.
