A £9,000 door-to-door consultation could be launched on York's cabinet-style council, nearly a year after it was introduced.

City of York councillors will be asked to carry out the research because the authority failed to gauge public opinion properly before introducing the system.

Now legal requirements mean it has to find out if York's residents want this form of government.

Research carried out previously was limited to resident surveys and council focus groups.

Rory Barke, the council's head of democratic services, said: "A detailed assessment of this original consultation has been undertaken, with the conclusion that, whilst the findings will be useful in the process ahead, the consultation was insufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.

"For example, the original consultation did not provide an opportunity for all local electors to express a preference, as required by the Act."

City of York Council was among the first in the country to introduce the new system, with the aim of running it as a pilot project so that changes could be made before the Government makes a modernised system of local government essential.

The Secretary of State has now said all councils must submit their plans for change by June this year - and has issued the need for full consultation.

Councils must choose between a cabinet system, an elected mayor working with a council manager or a mayor with a cabinet.

City of York Council must now go directly to the people of York, and ask them which system they want to see.

It is proposed that leaflets will this month be sent to every home in the city.

Options include:

The cabinet system, which involves an executive of councillors chosen by the council leader which are each responsible for different areas such as housing and education. Executive members can make most decisions, but financial matters must go to full council, and other controversial topics can be called in for discussion by all councillors.

An elected mayor with a cabinet system, which would put a mayor in power for a four-year term, who would appoint a cabinet responsible for certain areas.

An elected mayor with a council manager, which would again see a mayor with a four-year term, and a council manager who would be paid to run services. Both would provide joint leadership.

If more than five per cent of York's electors favour a mayoral system, they can demand that the council holds a referendum on the issue.

Updated: 10:35 Friday, April 13, 2001