The main decision-making body of Sutton Council is to be scrapped in a bid to make council policy-making more democratic, while cutting costs.

The council has become one of the first in the country to bin its existing executive system – similar to the Government's cabinet - where a council leader, deputy leader, and eight decision-making executive councillors decide on council policy.

The system will now be replaced by a new committee system, made up of proportionate numbers of cross-party, councillors from across the borough.

The five committees, which will meet every four to six weeks, could also include non-voting representatives from community groups and other organisations in Sutton to provide expertise.

They will each have a chairman, replacing the executive councillor in each policy area,with decisions reached on a majority basis.

The policies the committees draw up will then go in front of the full council to be ratified.

It is hoped the new system will be more democratic as more elected councillors, as well as experts from the community, will be sitting on the decision-making committees.

It will also save more than £30,000 in allowances paid to councillors.

Just five committee chairmen, and one lead councillor for finance, will receive the £17,391 in additional allowances currently paid to eight executive councillors.

The six existing local committees, which represent local areas of the borough, will remain, while the four existing scrutiny committees will be replaced by a single scrutiny body which will be largely responsible for scrutinising the council’s activities around health, crime and disorder and risk management.

Council leader Sean Brennan, said: "Everyone is feeling the pressure of the economic downturn, including the council, so it’s more important than ever that the decisions we make about how we spend taxpayers’ money are as open and transparent as possible.

"By inviting more councillors, from both political parties, to play a role in making important decisions, we hope residents will feel that we’re doing exactly that.

"It will also mean we can keep residents better informed, as the committees will all meet separately and will be able to discuss issues in public at greater length."

The new system will be launched in May if approved by the council next month.

The committees: Strategy and Resources, Environment and Neighbourhood, Children, Family and Education, Housing, Economy and Business, Adult Social Services and Health.