A RETURN to committee style government could be on the cards should the leadership of Barnet Council change hands a week today.

In a last ditch letter to his Conservative colleagues Councillor Mark Shooter, who is challenging leader Lynne Hillan, has laid out more details of his plans.

Among them are to bring more councillors back into the running of the council with a return of committee style management, to replace the current cabinet system.

Cllr Shooter started the challenge to combat what he calls a “bullying” leadership style after the controversy over top councillors having their allowances substantially boosted.

In the letter he pledges to “fling open the windows and let the disinfectant of sunlight pour in and an army of armchair auditors find savings to help us in our task”.

He promises to make the council's functions more transparent and more inclusive of resident's ideas and to look at which services are provided by the council and how.

Making efficiencies in council spending and paring down the controversial Future Shape programme are also high on Cllr Shooter's priorities.

In a statement to the Times Series Cllr Shooter, a self-made millionaire and former Hasmonean High School pupil, urged residents to back him.

He said: “I am counting on my fellow councillors to vote for me on September 7 and together we can make a real difference to Barnet and create something very special.

“But I am also acutely aware of the bullying that my opponents will resort to and really hope that my supporters will not be scared in to submission. I hope that democracy will prevail.

“My whole life has always been centred on this area and I purely and simply want the best for the people who live here and pay their taxes and ask nothing more than an efficient council to manage their money “The one way I can assure them of this is if I became council leader. So I ask all Conservative voters and activists to contact their local Councillors and urge them to support me so that together we can make that difference.”