ST HELENS could soon get its first ever democratically elected mayor after a planned 'ask the people' campaign. And Council Leader Marie Rimmer wants to put townsfolk firmly 'in the driving seat' to help in making these important choices.

Coun Rimmer explained that the local authority is set for a massive shake-up in line with the second part of a government modernisation plan for local authorities.

Over the coming months, all residents, businesses and organisations in the borough will be urged to give their views on new ways of running the council.

Three options will be offered -- all proposing a new style of local Government, including the chance to elect an 'executive mayor for a term of four years'.

This will place 'executive' authority with a limited number of elected members, leaving other councillors with more time to check out the work of the local authority and enabling them to spend more time 'at grass roots'.

The move is a key part of the Government's efforts to modernise local democracy across the country and has been warmly welcomed by the council. Aims of the changes will be to:

speed up decision-making,

encourage more people to have their say in the way local areas are run,

improve the quality of local services

and get better value for money.

Although the council has been piloting new arrangements since May last year, it will not be expressing its own preference between the final options.

Marie Rimmer said: "We recognise the need to modernise the way St Helens Council operates but its future constitution must reflect the wishes of people in the borough. We want everyone to have their say and we don't want to influence their choice.

"The borough has made great strides over recent years with a growing number of success stories. I am determined that St Helens Council should maintain the momentum of improvement that we are already witnessing, especially in our economy and environment. The people of St Helens are in the driving seat of the council's modernisation programme and I look forward to receiving the results of the extensive consultation exercise."

The consultation exercise will be overseen by an impartial Editorial Board. It will commence in February with publication of the next edition of the council's civic newspaper, The News, followed by a postal survey of all households in the borough. Special presentations will also be made to a wide range of interest groups and the council will consider its findings before it agrees its preferred option in late spring.