A council is to abandon its unique decision making system a year earlier than expected.

The Government is forcing Brighton and Hove City Council to drop its system of committees and select an all-powerful leader and cabinet instead.

The move is being forced on the city under the Local Government and Public Involvement Act despite all-party opposition.

The council must have the new model in place by spring 2009 but last nightThursday night it agreed to introduce the streamlined scheme in April 2008, 12 months ahead of schedule.

Council leader Brian Oxley said the new arrangement was being brought in early to avoid a lame-duck decision-making system which would hobble along for another year.

He said "We didn't want this system as we all believe our committees are more open and representative of the spectrum of views.

"But as it's being forced onto us we need to ensure the new constitution includes the best aspects of the old, so decision-making is transparent and truly reflective of public opinion."

The move has been backed by Councillor Gill Mitchell, leader of the opposition Labour party.

But Green convener Keith Taylor is calling for more discussions and explanations of the alternative models and for independent advice to be given to councillors.

He said: "There's too much haste in rushing toward a new system. I can understand the Conservative Partyís enthusiasm for early introduction as the leader and cabinet model strengthens their position. But why Labour councillors should rush to endorse this is a mystery?."

Under the current system, a series of committees covering environment to adult social services make decisions.

The committees mirror the make-up of the full council, which is hung, meaning many decisions currently need a consensus between parties to be passed.

Under the new system the full 54-seat council elects a leader who then appoints up to nine executive councillors to form a cabinet.

These nine, who would probably be drawn up from the leading Conservative Party, would take charge of specific areas of council work, such as environment, finance and culture.

The leader would be able to delegate decisions to the cabinet, executive members or officers.

The new-style leader is more top-heavy than in other councils already running cabinets as current executive or cabinet members are elected by the council.

Like the current model, meetings of the cabinet will be held in public except for confidential items.

Councillor Oxley has said that he envisages an important role for overview and scrutiny committees which will look at previous cabinet decisions as well as devising policies to present to cabinet.

Details of the changes will be advertised in the press around March.

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