England's most infamous elected mayor has described the position as the only way to bring "true accountability" to local government.

Stuart Drummond – better known as former football club mascot H'Angus the Monkey – swept to a shock win in Hartlepool's mayoral elections in 2002.

Eight years on, as it emerged Leicester could have an elected mayor in less than a year, he said the system had proved superior to an executive committee of councillors with a leader.

Mr Drummond, England's only third-term elected mayor, said: "First and foremost there is true accountability.

"People know who is making decisions, where to come if they have got an issue and who to blame if things go wrong.

"An elected mayor is the only position – practically in the whole country – where the public have a direct say on who makes their decisions.

"When you vote for an MP or councillor you don't vote for who will become Prime Minister or council leader."

A consultation is to begin soon on whether people in Leicester want to elect a mayor to run the city, with a hand-picked cabinet of councillors, or stay with the current system of a council leader chosen by councillors.

If people are in favour of the new style of leadership, anyone could put themselves forward for the job.

An elected mayor would choose a cabinet and allocate responsibilities to members.

Critics have said elected mayors are given too much power.

However, Mr Drummond said elected mayors should get more authority..

He said: "The one issue I have with it is that if things stay as they are at the moment, although the accountability is there, the public expectation is a lot higher than we have the capability to deliver."

Criticism has also been leveled at an elected mayor's ability to push through decisions if they represent a political party which is different to the council majority.

In Hartlepool, the cabinet is made up of four Labour councillors, three independents and Mr Drummond – also an independent councillor.

Hartlepool Borough Council had a small Labour majority.

Mr Drummond said: "The councillors know I do not play any political games and that I am not part of any party.

"I try to involve everyone and pick my cabinet by choosing the ones with intelligence and experience, who think along the same lines as me and who want to improve the town.

"There are examples of mayors fighting against party politics and that is probably where the system could fall down.

"I believe a lot of things have been done in Hartlepool that I would suggest would not have happened under the old system."