MAJOR changes to the political system in Colchester could see the borough elect a mayor.

Council’s are currently required to decide between an elected mayor or a strong leader by May, 2011 under the Local Government Act 2007.

Both systems are designed to give an individual more power to speed up decision making.

An elected mayor would be voted for by residents and would head Colchester Council.

A strong leader would be chosen by councillors and would be given more powers than the current leader and would be in charge for four years.

An elected mayor is a political head and different from the civic mayor which residents often see at functions.

There are suggestions that the new local Government arrangements will be scrapped but Colchester Council is going ahead with the discussions and a vote next month.

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