MOVES to increase the council's legal powers have received mixed reactions from party leaders.

Bromley Council could have a directly-elected executive of councillors, a leader elected by councillors or a directly-elected mayor under plans unveiled by Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly.

Her White Paper details a series of other proposed powers such as giving councillors small budgets to tackle area-specific issues and amending the code of conduct to allow councillors to speak out on licensing and planning issues.

It will also enable the council to bring in bylaws with fixed penalties without Whitehall approval, encourage it to set up neighbourhood charters and make police, health and education bosses face greater public scrutiny.

But council leader Councillor Stephen Carr says the plans will not work unless the Government gives Bromley more funding and takes the results of the forthcoming review of local government finance into account.

Cllr Carr said: "It is a major concern. The devil is in the detail because there are all sorts of implications from this.

"If the Government means this then fine, but it is totally contradictory to what Mayor Ken Livingstone wants, particularly with recycling and planning, which is a major concern."

Labour leader Councillor John Getgood said: "These proposals focus on people rather than politicians and this is what local democracy needs.

"Local mayors have been popular with voters because they have increased awareness and persuaded more people to become involved. There is a lot in these plans to be welcomed."

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor David McBride said: "I welcome some aspects of the White Paper, such as the decrease in targets and allowing councillors to speak out on planning and licensing matters, but on the whole I see it as a wasted opportunity.

"It does not offer a radical devolution of power or funding from Whitehall to our Civic Centre and won't return business rates to local control."