The responsibilities of Bradford Council should not be affected if residents vote in favour of an elected mayor in an upcoming referendum, the council leader has warned.

Cities Minister Greg Clark has this week asked residents of 12 English cities, including Bradford, to offer their views on what powers an elected mayor should have.

The coalition agreement last May set out the Government’s plans to create directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities outside London, subject to a referendum and full scrutiny by elected councillors.

Now, Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said it was his party’s view an elected mayor should not have a different set of powers than any other local authority.

He said: “It is absolutely unacceptable to change the powers of a local authority based on its governance model.”

Coun Greenwood said there was cross-party opposition in Bradford to an elected mayor. He said: “None of us believe it’s sensible for a district of this nature. This idea that you dictate and everybody has to comply is, in my view, a very false model of leadership.

“In my view it’s not about saying this is what I’m going to do and you’re going to follow.”

Conservative group leader Councillor Glen Miller said: “If we ended up with an elected mayor with outright control I think that would be unjust. How can someone understand fully an inner city ward like Great Horton compared to the ward I represent, Worth Valley, which is 90 per cent rural?”

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: “What you end up with is a massive confliction of power in one person’s hands and actually democracy, for me, is much safer when it’s dissipated.

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of clear thought on what powers the mayor would have, but if we look at the examples we have, and the closest one to us is Doncaster, who just hasn’t delivered.”

The consultation will run until January 3. The consultation document What Can A Mayor Do For Your City? is available at communities.gov.uk.