Leader and Cabinet or Elected Mayor and Cabinet?

Every four years the public elects 33 Councillors to represent it. At the moment, the Councillors elect a Leader and Cabinet each year.

A change in the law means the Council must alter the way it is run.

The Council has two options:

• Leader and Cabinet

This option is similar to how the Council is currently run. The Councillors will elect a Leader for four years. The Leader will then choose which Councillors (up to 9) will form the Cabinet. The Council could vote to remove the Leader during the four years.

• Elected Mayor and Cabinet

The Mayor is elected by the public in a separate election. The Mayor is elected for four years and cannot be removed by the Council. The Mayor chooses which Councillors (up to 9) will form the Cabinet.

The results of the consultation will be reported to the Cabinet and the Council. The Council will then decide which option it prefers.

The Council must decide which option to adopt by 31 December 2010 and the new arrangements will be put in place after the District Elections in May 2011.