Every Black Country borough could get an elected mayor under a radical review of the laws governing councils, it emerged today.

Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley councils have launched consultations, or are about to, on whether or not to keep the existing system of a leader and cabinet or whether to have a directly elected first citizen.

Wolverhampton has a special advisory group which is considering its options.

It is the first time the question has been put to the public and has been made law under the Local Government and Public Involvements in Health Act 2007.

The move could bring an end to the leader of the majority party automatically taking charge of a council and could see ordinary members of the public elected to office.

The other option is a leader and cabinet model similar to what is already in place at most councils.

The leader is directly elected by the council, which also has the power to remove the leader from office during their four-year maximum term.

The leader appoints up to nine other councillors for the cabinet. A directly elected mayor and cabinet option involves voters directly electing a mayor for a four-year term. An elected mayor is not a councillor and does not have to be a member of a political party.

In Doncaster, mayor Peter Davies has already made national headlines since being elected in June after cutting his salary from £73,000 to £30,000 and saying he did not believe in global warming.

He has also expressed admiration for the Taliban’s family values.

Councillor Bill Thomas, leader of Sandwell Council, said he was not in favour of an elected mayor.

He said: “We have seen in Doncaster that a maverick has been elected to be mayor.

“Often in systems with elected mayors they are at odds with the other members of the council.”