Would you like to choose how much Council Tax you pay?

He is also hoping to reduce staff at the county council by 1,000 or more in a bid to cut the tax burden.

Holding a referendum would mean people could choose the level of tax they pay - and what services they get for their money. This year, residents saw their council tax rise by 20 per cent.

Cllr Jones said: "I am keen we find better ways of consulting people and getting their views on what we should be doing and what the priorities should be.

"We are researching how we can better consult the public on key issues, including taxation, and will evaluate the use of referendums."

The county council has appointed a personnel director to try significantly to reduce its staffing levels in the next few years.

Bob Evans arrives at county hall on July 1 and has experience working for IBM and the treasury in personnel matters.

Cllr Jones said: "We have got to reduce the workforce and become a more efficient organisation.

"It means putting in modern work practices and the use of modern technology. We are investing quite heavily in that at the present time and that will continue for several years.

"My view is it has got to be hundreds, or perhaps even 1,000 or more if we want to produce savings into the tax."

The council leader said he thought most of the job cuts would come from administrative workers who would become surplus to requirements once the council used more computers and less paper.

He added that some staff, such as social workers and therapists, may be asked to work from home as part of the changes.

Cllr Jones said the savings made by the cuts would be split into three equal parts: giving staff wage increases, trying to improve council services and reducing the council tax.

The county council currently employs about 15,000 people. Half of these are teachers, although they would not be affected by any cuts.