YORK citizens could be among the first in the country to choose directly the personalities who run the city's council.

A major shake-up being considered for City of York Council would radically alter its structure and change the face of local elections in the future. It could give citizens the chance to elect the council leader directly, and also a cabinet of chief councillors, each responsible for a different area of services.

The proposals are intended to enliven democracy and make local government more accountable.

Although the ideas are still at an early stage, it is understood that York intends to be in the vanguard of local authorities radically changing their structure in line with the Government's White Paper on modernising local government.

Council officers asked to come up with proposals for change are understood to be considering a cabinet-style structure for York, similar to central government.

It would split councillors into two groups: a cabinet of chief councillors, who would make decisions, and a set of "back benchers", who would scrutinise the work of the cabinet.

One insider said: "It is a natural follow-on from what the City of York Council is doing anyway to make local government more responsive to local needs. Staff are excited by the ideas."

It remains to be seen if York citizens would directly elect the leader and members of the cabinet, or whether they would be appointed by the ruling political group on the council.

Council leader Rod Hills said: "We are still at the early stage, but something has to change and we are likely to have some sort of executive model because that is what the Government wants to see."

The city council's chief executive, David Clark, has met the local government minister Hilary Armstrong, who encouraged him to experiment with local democracy in York.

Mr Clark has told staff that there is "little room for no change" as the authority seeks to embrace what he described as the biggest change in local government in 100 years.

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