Liberal Democrats have quit a forum set up to find new ways of running a council.

Leaders of all four political groups on Brighton and Hove City Council formed a group to look at ways of implementing an improved version of the old committee system.

This followed the referendum defeat in November of a proposal to have a directly-elected mayor.

Lib Dems tabled a discussion paper saying there should be neighbourhood forums as part of the new structure, each with a budget.

But Labour council leader Ken Bodfish made it clear forums would not be discussed.

Lib Dem group leader Paul Elgood then walked out of the leaders' group.

But Councillor Bodfish accused him of being petulant and said forums would be looked at eventually.

Councillor Elgood said: "Ken Bodfish made it clear a policy of neighbourhood forums would not be pursued as part of the new structure, whereas we actually see it as the foundation.

"We are poles apart in our thinking and there is no point in our being there. We won't compromise on this issue and we have made it clear from the start.

"This leaders' group was supposed to be about seeking a consensus but it had become increasingly clear this is not the case.

"We just do not agree with New Labour's policy of centralisation and would prefer to provide robust opposition from the outside."

Lib Dems also want every committee meeting to have a public question time.

Coun Bodfish said: "We are discussing the new committee structure and we want to get that working efficiently, economically and democratically."