Maidstone Borough Council is to return to a committee system of governance from next May.

In an historic decision taken by the full council last night (Wednesday), members voted to throw out the cabinet system which had seen all decision-making powers concentrated in the hands of just six cabinet members.

A new policy and resources committee will become the main decider of policy. It will have 15 members, with every one of the council’s five political groupings represented. The head of policy and communications, Angela Woodhouse, said the system would also allow a place for a sixth group, if another party wins a seat at the next election.

Other committees will have specific decision-making powers, with three members able to refer any matter up to the full council for a final decision.

An officer analysis of the two systems had shown the running costs of each were similar, but there would be a one-off cost of £30,000 to draw up the new constitution.

The chief complaint against the cabinet system was that most councillors had no part to play.

Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) said: “It is very difficult to explain to residents why, as an elected member of the council, I have no power to change anything.”

UKIP member Dave Sargeant declared: “I came into politics because I believe in democracy. The cabinet system is not democratic.”

Council leader Annabelle Blackmore (Con) said: “The current cabinet has really tried to be collaborative; we have been listening.”

The Conservative group, who currently hold all the cabinet posts despite not having an overall majority, voted en bloc against making the change. They were supported by Independents Fay Gooch and Steve Munford, but were defeated by Liberal Democrats, Labour and UKIP councillors. The vote was 26 to 24, with one abstention.

Maidstone operated under a committee system until 2001.