Ex-mayors could receive £35 every time they snip a ribbon.

A proposal to be discussed by Brighton and Hove city councillors tomorrow would give former mayors a flat fee for every engagement they undertook on behalf of the mayor.

Between last May and January this year former mayors were called out on 19 occasions when the mayor and deputy mayor were both busy on other engagements. For these jobs they were only entitled to claim back the costs of their mileage.

Now an independent renumeration panel, made up of five members of the public, has recommended they are paid in full for representing the city at ceremonies, conferences, school plays and fetes.

The panel has investigated the option of paying former mayors an annual allowance to cover their stand-in duties.

But it decided it would be more appropriate to compensate them on a pay-as-you-go basis - calculated at a rate of just under £12-an-hour for three hours.

The panel's report said: "In view of the fact that a number of former mayors may be asked to represent the mayor during the year, it was felt a flat-rate attendance allowance would be more appropriate.

"This would ensure all former mayors were treated equally irrespective of the engagement they had to cover and would be the most cost-effective method in terms of administration and payment for such duties."

Councillor Ken Norman said the post of mayor was important to Brighton and Hove.

He said: "If the leading resident of the city turns up to open something or make a speech it makes the event feel more special and important.

"Former mayors are only asked when the mayor and deputy are tied up elsewhere. Past mayors are better than none at all."

The recommendation will be considered by councillors at a meeting of the full council on Thursday at Brighton Town Hall.

If accepted, the new arrangements would come into effect from next month and would cost the council about £665 a year, which would be met from the mayoral budget.

Councillors will also discuss increasing the allowances of the mayor and deputy mayor.