Campaigners for an elected mayor say they have new evidence of how complicated running the city would be by committee.

But the claims have been rejected by a rebel councillor who says the mayor would be a puppet of big business.

Brighton and Hove is the only city in the country which will revert to a committee system if voters reject the elected mayor idea next month.

The Yes for City Mayor campaign has released details of an internal discussion document which shows how a revised committee structure may work.

Lord Bassam of Brighton said: "They demonstrate what I have always suspected, that there will be duplication and probably deadlock with no one part of the whole organisation able to make a definitive decision. In one option, the working group called for a 'weak leader' model and wanted everything delegated to committees.

"The absence of any executive function to take the council and the city forward will take the authority back to a time when nobody could be identified as a politician responsible for anything.

"That does not make for a stronger or more democratic council. It simply makes for a weaker one, badly led and dominated by council officials."

But rebel Labour councillor Steve Collier said the mayor would be bad for democracy.

He has told colleagues on Brighton and Hove City Council in an open letter: "People would not trust their worst enemies in this role. Large private companies are keen to support the idea because they would find it easier to negotiate contracts."

He said the mayor could also be influenced by big business.

Coun Collier added: "Compare this to the improved committee system where the people who elect the councillors are ultimately in charge."

Coun Francis Tonks, of the No campaign, said: "There will be six decision-making committees, far fewer than there were in the past, with six scrutiny committees to match them.

"Under the mayor and cabinet scheme, there will still have to be several committees, some of them by law.

"I have challenged Lord Bassam to say which committees he will drop if his way of running the council is accepted."