A directly-elected mayor would be Brighton and Hove's own minister for jobs, education and tourism, says outgoing city council chief Glynn Jones.

As forms go out for the referendum on whether there should be a mayor with powers for the city, Mr Jones said he hoped people would vote Yes.

Mr Jones, made chief executive of Brighton Borough Council in 1989 and of Brighton and Hove Council in 1997, is one of the most experienced chief executives in the country.

He hands over this month to newly-appointed chief David Panter and is currently special adviser.

An independent report on the council this year called him an extraordinary networker respected throughout the city.

Mr Jones has been in charge while the new council has been formed and while Brighton and Hove has been awarded city status.

He used his new-found freedom to tell our reporter he thought voting yes in the mayoral referendum was best for the city, its residents, its businesses and its future.

Mr Jones said "It really does matter how local councils make their decisions and it really does matter that a town or city council is able to provide the grand vision and the overall strategic leadership that its area requires.

"I have listened to the arguments over the past weeks and months about whether Brighton and Hove should be run by a mayor and Cabinet or by a committee-based system and I have reached the conclusion that a city like ours would benefit immensely from the mayor and Cabinet leadership.

"It may not work everywhere but it really could work here.

"I am aware some people believe this could lead to a concentration of too much power in one pair of hands. I cannot agree. In reality, the main power that the mayor would have is the power to influence and that is precisely what we need.

"All the major decisions of the council and its spending plans will have to be agreed by all elected councillors at a meeting of full council. That is as it should be.

"But it is patently ridiculous to pretend the only way in which anything can get done is by a group of people sitting round in a committee trying to agree on how it should be done.

"I have, in my time, sat through more committee meetings than most. Many of them have done good work, though I have to say not too many of them are particularly memorable.

"But times have changed. Local government is not just about what happens in the town hall. It's about how the council can influence the city for the better."

He gave as examples working with the NHS to improve health and reduce inequalities in health; working with the police to improve community safety and cut crime; working with schools and universities to improve the education of citizens and working with the voluntary sector.

Mr Jones added: "When we are talking about the basic services like refuse collection and street cleaning, the point for me is not whether these are provided directly by council employees or indirectly by a contractor.

"The point is that our residents get a good service at a reasonable price and that the staff who provide that service are treated fairly.

"I think the mayor and Cabinet system is the best way of fulfilling all these demands, of listening to what local people want and creating a vision for how we can achieve that, of being visible and responsible when things go wrong and doing all that is possible to ensure things don't go wrong again.

"The mayor and Cabinet can provide Brighton and Hove's very own minister for tourism, our minister for jobs, our minister for education.

Ballot papers for a historic referendum are being sent out to thousands of homes today.

The Electoral Reform Society is doing the job for Brighton and Hove City Council.

Voters are being asked if they want the city to be run by a directly-elected mayor.

If they say Yes, elections for the post will take place in the first week of May next year.

If the result is No, the council will be run by an improved version of the old committee system.

The ballot papers can be returned by Freepost or delivered by hand on October 16, 17 and 18 to either Brighton or Hove town halls.

On Thursday, October 18, the town halls will be open until 9pm to accept the replies.

The result will be announced after the count on Friday, October 19.

An information leaflet produced by the council is included with the voting slip.

The council has set up a special hotline number of 01273 291999 to answer queries.