As an attender at public committee meetings, I am perhaps one of the few members of the public who is in a position to comment about the debate over committees versus an elected mayor.

To be honest, committees are depressing because, whatever one side suggests, the other automatically derides, even if it is a good idea.

We really do need to take politics out of local government. If a mayor would help to do that, he or she has got my vote.

-Mary Kennedy, Hartington Road, Brighton