REDDITCH taxpayers will be forced to fork out if the decision is taken to elect a mayor and cabinet to run the council, writes Becky Procter.

The warning comes after Redditch Council launched the second phase of consultation over how it should be run.

The discussion, which finishes on Friday, has proposed alternatives such an elected mayor and council manager, a leader and cabinet and a streamlined committee system.

And townfolk will be asked to vote on an elected mayor in the autumn after a decision to hold a referendum was taken by councillors in March.

But Councillor David Cartwright said the council feared people did not know the implication of having an elected mayor.

He said: "The job of mayor would be a full-time position. And we'll probably only get people doing the job if they're getting paid more or the same as their salary."

Consultation earlier this year showed the current system of a leader and cabinet was favoured, with an elected mayor and cabinet as second choice.

Leaflets posing questions on how the council should be reshuffled are available in libraries and council venues.