When Brighton and Hove voters rejected the idea of a directly-elected mayor, many were hoping their No votes would force Brighton and Hove City Council to adopt

a more open and democratic system of local government.

It is clear from Labour's reaction to Councillor Paul Elgood's proposal for neighbourhood forums they are going to be disappointed.

We should give people in the diverse communities of Brighton and Hove more say over what happens in their areas. Neighbourhood forums, based on natural communities - where people could speak with local councillors present - would enable that to happen. Especially if, as Coun Elgood suggests, the forums had a budget to spend on much-needed local amenities. Voice Of The Argus (December 5) was wrong to suggest neighbourhood forums are something that can be tacked on later.

That is because devolving power closer to people is the core principle on which the new system of council committees ought to be based.

Neighbourhood forums would be the foundation-stones of a new kind of democratic council that not only listened to people's concerns but also did something about them.

Instead, we are to have a centralised system without those foundations in place, with all the dangers that implies. Despite some window dressing, there will not be much difference to the old system that gave us the "great waste fiasco" earlier this year (cost to taxpayers, £1.5 million) and much more.

Labour has been using the leader's group - with, regrettably, the docile acquiescence of the Conservative council leader - to foist another system of secret and centralised government on Brighton and Hove. Coun Elgood and the Liberal Democrats are right to put their own proposals in their own way.

-Peter Bartram, Chairman, Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats, Tivoli Road, Brighton