THE council has said that it proposes to adopt a new “strong leader” system as oppose to a directly elected mayor.

The Government says the council must choose one of two systems to replace the current system by May next year.

At a full council meeting on Thursday, council leader Chris Robbins said that all three parties are in favour of the leader system, which is similar to the current system in the borough, but further strengthens the power of the council leader.

Many councillors expressed anger that the decision had to be made at all and said it could damage the democratic process and undermine the role of ward councillors by giving more power to one person.

Labour and Liberal Democratic councillors voted in favour of the motion, while the Conservatives abstained.

The motion was agreed by a majority vote to set up a small members' working group to consider the implications of the new constitution.

Councillors will make a final decision to adopt the leader model at a special meeting on December 17.