For a supposedly progressive party, it is disappointing the three lone Liberal Democrat councillors in Brighton and Hove have decided not to back the campaign for an elected mayor for the city.

What is less surprising is that, at this late stage, they have come up with a third option, that of community forums, which, of course, will not be featuring on the ballot paper.

What they seem to forget is that successful community forums already exist in the city, as well as bodies such as the New Deal for Communities that are resident-led.

When the choice comes in next month's ballot, we will have the choice between a deeply conservative option of returning to the slow and bureaucratic committee system or a modern, democratic option of an elected mayor who will be able to speak for every community in the city.

-Elisabeth Telcs, Freshfield Street, Brighton