A new system for running the council will come into force next month.

Brighton and Hove City Council has set May 16 as the day for the change from the Leader and Cabinet system to an improved version of the old committee system.

Officials have drawn up a new constitution which was approved by the policy and resources committee last night.

Brighton and Hove will be the only large authority in England operating the system, adopted after a referendum last year rejected the idea of having a directly-elected mayor.

Most other councils who took the same course opted instead for a leader and cabinet system but Brighton and Hove exploited a loophole in the law which enabled it to revert to committees.

A timetable of meetings has been produced and there will be as much public access as possible.

Leading Labour councillor Brian Fitch praised officials for their speed in getting the complicated system into operation.

Green convenor Keith Taylor said he did not agree with every aspect of it but added: "Largely the system is open, accountable and held in public."

Council leader Ken Bodfish said councillors from all parties had worked hard to achieve it.

The committee also agreed a new system of allowances which will cost much the same.

Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley said the authority will make a big saving next year when the number of members drops from 78 to 54.