A TEESSIDE council has accepted a new constitution which will determine the way it is run in the future.

Unlike Middlesbrough Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has opted to go for a council leader and executive system, rather than an elected mayor.

The executive is made up of senior councillors from the leading party, all of whom have their own area of responsibility and come under the guidance of the leader. This system aims to streamline the decision-making process as against the old committee system.

Councillor David Walsh, leader of the authority, said: "The first message is that there is no popular desire or wish for an elected mayor in Redcar and Cleveland. Across the council there is a broad consensus that such an arrangement is not appropriate for a council made up of a large number of scattered - and very proud - social and geographical communities.

"An elected mayor would be seen as centralist, autocratic, and unrepresentative of a diverse borough.

"The other clear message is that the management of the council has to be as inclusive as possible. There is a lot of disquiet amongst our councillors - of all political groups, I believe - that the changes to political management introduced by the Local Government Act can lead to a 'two- tier' council, made up of a governing elite on the one hand and marginalised backbenchers on the other.

"The management arrangements we have pioneered - including scrutiny panels that vet, discuss and debate papers and issues before they go to the council's executive - mean that we have, within the boundaries of existing legislation, the maximum degree of collective decision-making we can manage.

"The council can now carry on with its programme of social and economic renewal for the people of our borough. They demand and need first-class services. The growing improvement in the council's financial affairs and day-to-day management will continue so that we can meet those needs and expectations.