AN ELECTED mayor will not be ruling Welwyn Hatfield from May, after councillors voted to keep the current system.

A special meeting was held for borough councillors to make their views known, and the elected representatives opted to side with public opinion.

More than two thirds of residents who responded to a consultation held by the council wanted the current leader and cabinet regime to remain.

Concerns were raised an elected mayor could cost tens of thousands of pounds a year in salary costs alone.

Chief executive Michel Saminaden said: “Both Welwyn Hatfield residents and members of the council have agreed the leader and cabinet model is the one to follow.”

Welwyn Hatfield Council, like all local authorities, had to consider any changes to its executive arrangements in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The current leader of the council is John Dean.