TOWN residents are being given the chance to elect a mayor in the biggest shake-up in local government since 1974.
Bromsgrove District Council has already formed an executive cabinet but voters will be asked to consider whether they want a directly-elected mayor.
A public consultation beginning on Monday March 19 will explain the new system proposed by the Government to speed up local decision-making and offer four options for the future.
Two of the options include a directly-elected mayor with either a cabinet of councillors or a council manager -- either decision would have to be approved by a referendum. A separate mayoral election could cost £40,000.
Alternatively, there could be a streamlined version of the old committee system.
The trial arrangement, in operation until the autumn, is for a cabinet of five councillors from the majority party meeting in public each week to make decisions formerly taken by committees.
Their decisions will be examined by three scrutiny committees composed of councillors from all parties which can launch inquiries into services and make recommendations.
Meetings of the full council will take place every six weeks to ratify the decisions of the cabinet.
At the inaugural cabinet meeting last Wednesday, council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) was appointed executive leader with Cllr Terri Matthews (Con, Furlongs) as his deputy. Each cabinet member was also given responsibility for a particular area of the council's activities.
Cabinet decisions will take the form of recommendations to the policy and resources committee until the public consultation is complete.
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