A special Liverpool City Council meeting will take place early in the new year to decide the fate of the city's mayoral system.
Liverpool switched from the leader and cabinet model of governance to a directly elected city mayor in 2012, with Joe Anderson holding that role ever since.
Mayor Anderson was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation by police investigating development and building issues in Liverpool.
The mayor is currently administratively suspended by the Labour Party and has stepped aside from his decision- making duties while he remains on police bail.
He said he will make a further announcement about his future after he answers that bail on December 31.
He has not been charged with any crime.
His deputy, Cllr Wendy Simon has stepped into the role as acting Mayor of Liverpool.
Liverpool is due to vote in mayoral elections in May next year after polls were posTponed last year because of the Covid-19 crisis.
The city's opposition parties have said it is now time for Liverpool to revert to a different style of governance - be it the leader and cabinet model the existed before or a committee system.
The Liberal Democrats have now requested that a special meeting take place to vote on these issues as early as possible in January.
They have asked council officers to draw up and implement a consultation programme with the people of Liverpool on the different systems of governance available.
They have also asked for a report to be presented to the special meeting of the council, which the ECHO understands could take place on January 20.
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The city's Green Party have also said they believe a change in governance system is needed.
While several members of the Labour group have previously suggested that the city should revert to a leader and cabinet model - particularly since the creation of a city region mayoral post, currently held by Steve Rotheram - the ECHO understands the ruling group is likely to vote against the opposition motion.
If that does happen, it would mean the mayoral system remaining in place as we head towards the 2021 elections.
