Discussions over introducing an elected mayor and council manager at Guildford BC have concluded with councillors turning down the idea.

The possibility was discussed after a petition to hold a referendum for an elected mayor was handed to the council by a local resident and businessman. The petition was declared invalid for failing to contain the required 4,943 signatures – representing 5% of registered voters and required by the law to trigger the ballot – but the executive agreed to discuss a report on the petition last week and take forward a recommendation to full council in July.