COUNCILLORS are backing plans for Durham County Council to be run by a cabinet and leader.

The proposals will be put forward for Government approval in June after consultation revealed that most people in the county favoured the idea too.

The council, like others across the country, is considering how best to run its affairs in the light of the Government's drive to modernise local government.

Voters, staff, businesses and voluntary groups preferred the cabinet and leader system over a mayor with a cabinet or a mayor and a manager. The last option was the most unpopular of the three, the council's executive committee has been told.

All the groups consulted registered votes of well over 90 per cent for public access to cabinet meetings, which forms part of the council's proposals.

Currently, the cabinet meetings are held behind closed doors but it has no legal power to make decisions - it can only make recommendations to the executive committee which meets in public.

Now the council will consider consultations on details of its proposals such as: how the cabinet is appointed, the functions of the executive, how decisions will be scrutinised and the operation of area development forums and member area panels.