SIR – If, as Gerry Sutcliffe (pictured) says (T&A January 24), all groups on the Council are opposed to having an elected mayor, then this is a strong argument in favour of having one.

He goes on to say, “I believe in strong leadership”. Strong leadership is just what we have not had from our Council with regard to planning.

The Council has not been in charge, the unelected Council officers have. Hence the mess we are in.

The money from selling Leeds Bradford Airport was frittered away and the last of it has been sunk in a puddle in the city centre.

Meanwhile, the Odeon has been left in limbo. Langtree Artisan shows no sign of ever getting on with New Victoria Place, but will do their best, backed up by the Council planners, to stop anyone else redeveloping it.

We need the strong leadership of an elected mayor to resolve the dead-end situation with regard to planning development in Bradford.

Nicholas Bielby, Frizinghall Road, Bradford