SO, Bolton Council has succeeded in passing the resolution required to change its governance arrangements.

Up until now, your correspondents (including myself) have concentrated on the quality of the consultation.

It seems to me that, for the council, it was never about elected mayors, but, in order to implement the changes they wanted, the act required them to go through this rigmarole.

Resting upon the assurances of their top legal officer, they have done, in my view, the minimum consultation they think they can get away with.

It might be appropriate to examine what is actually going to change.

This is laid out in the required publicity for the proposals on page two of November’s issue of Bolton Scene.

Basically, from next May, instead of the full council choosing the Executive members and determining their roles and responsibilities, this power will now be given to the “new style” leader. He will have the same powers as would have an elected mayor.

The leader will be chosen by the whole council after the local elections next May, and will serve until he or she, personally, has to face their own ward election — up to a maximum of four years.

The governance will mimic the Westminster set up with the difference that, after the following local elections in 2011, it would be theoretically possible to have, say, a Conservative leader in a council that has a majority of Labour councillors. Sounds great fun!

It seems to me that power will have shifted even more towards the “elite” of the town hall (including officers) away from the backbench — foot soldier, dare I say lobby fodder of the people you and I elect.

More democracy? I think not.

To Mr Johnston (Letters, December 10) I say, try keeping tabs on this cabal at the top after next May.

Paul Richardson Ripon Close Little Lever