Leading Bradford councillors strongly oppose the prospect of the district being led by a powerful people's mayor and influential manager.

They argue that it is undemocratic, concentrates too much power in one place and is a recipe for disaster in a district where people should work together.

It could also greatly erode their work and influence because they could take second place to the powerful pair.

In fact, Tory council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton's personal view is that members may just as well pack up and go home if it happens.

She is convinced the mayor and manager would pursue their own ambitious agendas in the diverse district.

But a political expert argued today that the system could give the district top leadership and a mayor could pick the best in the world for their deputy.

Dr Gerry Stoker said it could echo the scenario where London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone picked his transport supremo Bob Kiley.

There is also the point that councillors with their political differences may not be the best people to manage Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan council, he said.

It is, after all, a massive business with 23,000 employees and a gross £700,000 budget.

The view that councillors are sometimes an obstruction to the smooth running of services has also been voiced unofficially at City Hall in the past.

If Bradford Council receives a petition signed by 17,400 people, a referendum will be held to see if the majority of people want to elect their own mayor.

Anyone could stand for election, including candidates chosen by political parties. The elections would be held every four years.

But what would happen to Bradford's 90 councillors, if a high profile mayor and manager took over the district?

Dr Stoker, professor in political science at Manchester University, stressed that all the models for the new look councils were highly flexible so councils could get the best for their own particular authority.

Dr Stoker, who is chairman of the Local Government Network - a think-tank of local government officers, academics and experts - said councillors could concentrate on being out in the community, meeting the people who elected them and trying to meet their needs.

He said they would also need to scrutinise decisions by the mayor and his manager and the Council would still have overall power as the organisation setting the budget.

But Bradford would win kudos as one of the first major councils to go down the mayoral route, strongly advocated by the Labour government.

But Dr Stoker admitted it would be a "tough call" for any campaign group to get the signatures needed by law to get a referendum - because of public apathy about local government.

Jim O'Neill, co-ordinator of the People's Choice - Bradford's elected mayor campaign - feels the mayor and manager system goes a step too far.

He said it left a gap which should be filled democratically and he preferred the system of a mayor with a cabinet.

And Coun Eaton said: "With a mayor and manager I believe we may as well all pack up.

"I believe they would pursue their own agenda and forget about elected members.

"We should all be working together for the future of the district in a constructive way. Personally I feel this model is not what Bradford needs."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: "I would be against a concentration of power in a few people's hands. This has happened in almost every part of the world where things have gone wrong."

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group said: "I would be extremely unhappy about this total concentration of power. I believe it would lead to a reduction in accountability."

l Questionnaires currently being sent to people across the district asking for views on how the council should operate also gives the option of a system with an elected mayor operating with a cabinet which need not include councillors.

There is also the choice of a leader and cabinet - similar to the existing system.

The council has extended the deadline for answering the questionnaire until the end of the month.

It is legally bound to consult the public when agreeing its new structure - and must prove to the government that it has listened to the people.