City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says backbench councillors are as important as ever – despite complaints that they feel powerless.

Three newly-elected councillors have contacted the Mercury to say that they feel left out of political debate, despite spending the past year or so working towards getting elected. They declined to be named for fear of being disciplined within their party.

One said: "I always thought that as a councillor you could make a real difference but I don't really feel like I've got much clout to be honest. The big decisions are made by the mayor and the cabinet. The rest of us don't really get a look in."

Another said: "Fair play to the mayor, he's making sure everyone can get involved in scrutinising his decisions.

"But that's a world away from being able to make a difference yourself. There isn't much scope for doing anything for yourself."

Former Labour councillor Mary Draycott, who retired in May, said she was not surprised the new councillors were concerned.

"Councillors simply have no powers any more," she said.

"I do feel for them. They've worked so hard to get elected and will want to change so much from day one. It must be so frustrating.

"When I first became a councillor you were actually able to do things. Every councillor had the power to change things. Now power is in the hands of leaders and mayors, as well as outside bodies and partnerships.

"When the elected mayor idea was being railroaded through the council I could see that the situation would only get worse and that's why I retired. The city mayor has all the power, and that's it."

For many years, committees comprising councillors made big decisions on a range of issues. It meant every councillor had the opportunity to have a direct say in council decision making.

About 10 years ago that changed to a cabinet system, which meant the council leader and a team of nine colleagues took over the decision-making process.

But with the city mayor system, which was introduced in Leicester in May, power is concentrated in one person's hands rather than spread across the cabinet.

However, Sir Peter said: "Councillors here in Leicester are as important as ever. They have two major roles: scrutinising policy and key decisions, and improving their local areas.

"When it comes to scrutiny I'm committed to making sure every councillor has the opportunity to review and question decisions made by myself and the assistant mayors.

"I'm also committed to making sure councillors continue to decide how money is spent within their wards, so that when local people approach them with issues they have the resources to do something about it."