LIVERPOOL council will  hold a historic vote on having a directly elected  mayor next week.

The poll will take place  on Tuesday February 7.

Officials have also  recently discovered that  the vote to change the  council’s constitution will  only require a straight  majority.

It was thought that  two-thirds of the 90  councillors would have to  vote in favour, as set  down by the Local  Government Act.

But that was  overtaken by the  Localism Act, of which  parts came into force  this month.

Liverpool council  leader Joe Anderson  announced the plan to  move to an elected  mayor as a way of  unlocking £130m deal  from the government for  new schools  and regeneration.

But a row continues to  rage over whether  having an elected mayor  is necessary to access  the money.

The government has  said that cities wanting  extra powers and money  must have “stronger  governance”.

Liberal Democrat  deputy leader Richard  Kemp said this could  mean the council  expanding its cabinet or  committees.

He said: “Having an  elected mayor is a model  they are comfortable  with,  but it is not the  only one.”

Cllr Anderson said it  could take years to  devise another model of  governance.

He said: “Going for an  elected mayor means we  can get extra powers and  money now. I think it is a  no-brainer.”