RESIDENTS could soon be responsible for choosing the town's mayor if American-style politics are introduced to Preston.

Borough council chiefs are drawing up plans to revolutionise Preston Town Hall, replacing the traditional committee-style authority with one based on central government, but which includes a directly-elected mayor.

At the heart of the proposals, revealed to the Citizen this week, is a nine-seat cabinet made up of senior councillors, each with a portfolio for a specific area of the council's work. The remaining 48 councillors are expected to form scrutiny committees, which would examine the way issues and policies are implemented by the all-powerful central executive.

And the town could be led by a directly-elected mayor, whose role would be beefed up from the present ceremonial position to one with much more control over the town.

Preston council leader Peter Rankin said: "It is possible that Preston could have an American-style mayor, who will be directly elected, running the council.

"We are considering the plans and will be consulting the public."

The revolution inside Preston's Town Hall follows a government White Paper, which described the current committee system as old-fashioned and called for reorganisation.

It comes just a year after borough chiefs streamlined the committee system, merging several committees and extending breaks between meetings.

Town Hall chiefs are still looking to reshape the town's wards, increasing the number of councillors in populated areas, and removing some from rural areas.

However the plans are not expected to be implemented until after the next election in May 2000.

Preston's Citizen Panel, a 500-strong committee which is said to represent the entire community, is expected to be asked about the plans to reshape the town's political structure.

South Ribble Borough Council plans to introduce a similar cabinet system in January, but has opted not to include a directly-elected mayor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.