Residents of a town are to be asked to pass judgement on the effectiveness of their councillors.

The people of Middlesbrough will be given performance indicators to help them assess the work of their elected representatives and of mayor, Ray Mallon.

In their turn, councillors will have to work to job descriptions and make annual reports on the work they have undertaken.

Mr Mallon made clear his intentions to make councillors more accountable to the public, in his acceptance speech on his election to office earlier this year.

Council officials will develop a performance monitoring system in detail over the next six months, ready for introduction following next year's council elections.

The former head of Middlesbrough CID says by putting themselves to the test, councillors should regard the move as a way to "let the people who look to them for a lead in their local communities, know they are putting them and the town of Middlesbrough, first.

"Performance management - put simply, ensuring we get the best out of people for the benefit of the public - is now central to local government. There is absolutely no reason why elected members should not take part; in fact there's a strong case to say their performance is the most important health check the council have.''

Mr Mallon expects most of the council will take part in and benefit from the scrutiny system. But he warned: "I would only say that those who dig their heels in, must expect the public to draw their own conclusions.'' In the annual reports they make, councillors will be expected to show not just how many meetings they have attended but how they have influenced decision-making.