The row over whether there should be an elected city mayor reached a climax today just as voting forms were due to be sent out.

Two former council finance bosses came out in favour of the system as well as former Hove Council leader Bernard Jordan.

But Councillor Brian Oxley, Tory opposition leader on Brighton and Hove City Council, wrote to 1,000 businesses urging them to vote No.

The officials in favour are former resources director Steve Rayson and retired chief finance officer Howard Attree.

They said, far from increasing costs, the new mayoral system would have the potential to save £1.4 million over a four-year period. They said: "The primary reason is fewer committees, fewer councillors and less bureaucracy."

They said the rival committee system would be costly and awkward and the new mayor would be more in tune with the public.

They said: "In London, it seems to us Ken Livingstone is much more in tune with the public in opposing the fragmentation of the London Underground than the Government."

Mr Jordan, who switched last year from Conservative to Labour, said: "During my stint on Hove Council, some members from all parties made no contribution in any meeting or council for the whole of their membership.

"There is a chance for the local electorate to get rid of the dead wood by voting for an elected mayor."

He said that under the committee system, sites such as the Royal Naval Reserve land on Hove seafront had remained empty for years.

Problems such as travellers, parking and graffiti were not solved.

People all around the world could name the New York Mayor but would have no idea who their civic mayor was.

He said: "Vote the political pygmies out. Enough is enough."

Coun Oxley is asking business owners to vote No and to urge their customers to do the same.

He said the cost of an elected mayor could cost up to £1 million in four years.

The alternative was an improved committee system where people would be able to see decisions taken openly as they happened.

He said: "I hope business people will be persuaded that having an elected mayor is not some sort of mechanism to cut through the red tape at the town hall.

"It will add to the problem by creating yet another power centre to deal with."