A YORK councillor is investigating whether a “John Lewis-style” council could be brought into operation in the city.

Coun James Alexander, who heads City of York Council’s Labour group, has visited counterparts in the London authority of Lambeth to see how their revolutionary scheme to get residents involved in the running of services is working.

The initiative involves members of the public taking on regeneration projects in return for a council tax rebate, which council bosses there hope will lead to savings as public spending tightens.

It has led to the authority being dubbed a “John Lewis council”, after the department store chain which allows employees to become partners in the business and share annual profits. Coun Alexander said he wanted to explore whether the idea might work in York.

Coun Alexander said: “York is in a very difficult financial situation and we now face national cuts from the coalition Government.

“I am therefore building bridges with other councils in the region and nationally to boost co-operation and York’s stature, but also to learn from other councils how to keep costs down while improving services.

“City of York Council is currently not very good at these, and I am ambitious for the council and think we can do better.

“I am investigating whether community-led co-operative services, which mean the community works with the council to deliver services while reducing the financial burden to the taxpayer, are a viable and better option for York going forward.

“If viable, this has the potential to revolutionise the way the council operates and how it works with residents.”

Steve Reed, Labour’s leader on Lambeth Council, said: “Our experience shows this model creates better services which cost less because local people have more control over them.

“James wants to give more power to people in York in the same way and has invited me to the city to visit some of the community-run projects he would like to see more of.

“There’s a real chance the co-operative approach could help protect frontline services from the savage cuts being planned.”