A NEW option for the future of Watford Council's decision-making processes has been outlined by the Government.

Watford Council, with all local authorities in the country, had been told it would have to abandon its practice of making decisions through committees in favour of one of three options: an elected mayor with a cabinet, a cabinet with a leader, or an elected mayor with a council manager.

Authorities representing fewer than 85,000 people, which includes Watford, have been given a fourth option of keeping their present committee system in a streamlined form.

Watford Council has carried out consultations based on the original options, and had planned to hold a referendum in November. It will now have to start its consultation process again and has postponed the referendum. A new date has not yet been set.

Earlier consultations carried out on behalf of the council by Mori showed that most people were in favour of an elected mayor for the town.

Dacorum and Hertsmere have more than 85,000 residents, so do not have the fourth option.

Council chief executive Mr Alan Clarke said: 'We shall be consulting again on this new option to confirm how opinion stands.

'We are working to deliver an improved local government structure as soon as possible.

'We are strongly committed to it and aim to offer a system which will provide the best and quickest decision making for the community and which enables them to be more involved in decisions affecting their lives.'