MAJOR changes to the way Waltham Forest Council is run will undermine local democracy, it has been warned.

The authority will be forced to adopt one of two systems after the elections in May next year.

Councillors can choose between having a directly elected mayor, or a leader with more power.

A directly elected mayoral system will see all executive powers and control over cabinet given to one person.

The so-called strong leader system is closer to the current system in the borough, but further strengthens the power of the council leader.

Councillors have been told to choose by the end of the year which option to adopt.

Cllr John Macklin, Lib Dem leader and council deputy leader, said: “We have our concerns that the only two options being presented both leave the potential for much greater centralisation of decision making.

“My experiences of being part of the council have reaffirmed my belief that better decisions are made with a greater scope for input from councillors and residents alike.

“Putting a large amount of power in the hands of one person may well make it easier for them to make decisions, but I believe it also means there is an increased chance that poor decisions will be made.

“Lib Dems pride themselves on being community councillors and the link between ward councillors and residents is hugely important.

"But if the potential for input from ward councillors continues to decrease, what faith can residents have in their local representative can have any impact upon the actual decision-making process?”

Cllr Macklin added that unlike areas which already adopted the elected mayor system, such as neighbouring Newham, no political party in has dominated the political landscape in Waltham Forest for a number years.

He also called for the council leader working within the new model to give away powers to ensure “properly representative decision making.”

Cllr Matt Davis, the council's Conservative Group Leader, described the directly elected mayor system as a "dictatorship."

He said: "This is an attack on democracy by a morally bankrupt Labour Government.

"Given this Hobson's choice the Conservative Group will support the strong leader model since that retains a vague measure of accountability to councillors and the people they represent."

Former Waltham Forest mayor and Labour councillor Narinder Matharoo last week said an elected mayor system was essential for the borough to prosper.

Residents will be able to submit their views on the proposed new system to the council from next Monday (August 31) until October 2.