Plans for a new cabinet-style Braintree Council have moved a step nearer reality.

Councillors have opted for a leader and cabinet as their preferred choice of political management.

The public will have the chance to have their say when the scheme goes out to consultation next month.

Braintree Council spokesman Chris Trim said: "It's clear that for this scheme to be accepted we need to show that there is public support or at least no significant opposition."

The Government has outlined proposals for a new constitution for local authorities and is asking Braintree Council to make its own suggestion.

The leader and cabinet style is likely to lead to all committees except for planning being abolished.

Instead, councillors would form a scrutiny panel which can analyse and quash any decisions made by the cabinet.

Feedback from the public consultation exercise will be considered by councillors in September. The council's deadline for a response is next May and the proposals have to be rubber-stamped by the Government.

It is not likely to be implemented before May 2002. The full council recommended the leader and cabinet system after chairman Kerin Boylan used his casting vote.

The Labour group backed the proposal but other groups raised concerns that it would lead to an erosion of democracy.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.