SOUTHAMPTON has rejected the idea of electing a mayor to rule over the city, with residents opting for a Parliamentary Cabinet style of leadership with decisions taken behind closed doors instead.

Details of the results of a consultation carried out over the summer on whether the city should be run by an elected mayor have been seen by the Daily Echo.

A convincing 55 per cent of residents who responded to a survey said they would prefer to have a council leader with a Cabinet style of government.

Civic chiefs are to meet next week to agree residents' views. Nearly 8,000 surveys were sent back to the council - the highest response rate received across the country on the elected mayor debate, say the council.

A Cabinet style of government means decisions will be taken behind closed doors, by a maximum of just ten members of the ruling group. These decisions will be published, and can be reviewed by scrutiny committees of backbenchers.

Currently, policy is agreed in secret by Labour chiefs and the whipping system for backbenchers ensures that committees do little more than rubber stamp these policies.

The Cabinet and leader option has attracted cross-party support in the city. Councillor Paul Jenks, who headed the taskgroup looking at the options, said the new system would open up local decision-making.

"Decisions aren't made in public as it is, and under the new system senior councillors like myself will have to be more accountable. Cabinet members can be called in front of scrutiny committees to explain themselves."

The council could still be forced to take on an elected mayor, if five per cent of the city's electorate petition for a referendum.

Other cities and authorities around the country are still considering what changes they will make to their system of local government. The government has demanded sweeping change in a bid to try and encourage more public interest in local decision making.

Eastleigh is one of the few which has already made its choice - a variation of the Cabinet system, with six ruling party members plus two minority group councillors. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Bill to create elected mayors and Cabinets will be introduced in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday - when South-ampton councillors will confirm their favoured option of Cabinet and leader.

The Bill is not likely to become law until 2001. In the meantime transitional arrangements will be put into action.

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