Both of the female councillors on Mayor Rob Ford’s cabinet-like executive committee say they will quit at the end of the year if Ford does not change his leadership style.

The departure of Michelle Berardinetti and Jaye Robinson from the powerful 13-member committee would create an optics problem for the mayor, whose inner circle is dominated by men.

Robinson criticized Ford at length on Monday. She said he lacks a “vision, strategy and plan,” has taken a “last-minute, knee-jerk” and overly ideological approach to issues, has been unwilling to seek consensus, and is prematurely focused on campaigning.

Berardinetti said Ford must demonstrate “improvements in terms of being strategic and being conciliatory,” both qualities she believes are “missing.” She said Ford’s refusal to budge on the budget and on transit, even though compromise would have averted defeats, caused “everything to crystallize” in her mind.

Robinson said she has seen no sign the proudly stubborn Ford is willing to change, though she remains “hopeful.” Berardinetti said “only time will tell,” though she added, with a hint of resignation, that “he has his way of thinking.”

Robinson (Ward 25, Don Valley West) has supported Ford on about two-thirds of significant issues, less than any other executive member. She was the first ally to publicly oppose him on the Port Lands, and she voted against his transit plan for Eglinton.

Berardinetti (Ward 35, Scarborough Southwest) has voted with Ford slightly more often than Robinson but less than any other member of the executive. She backed him on both the budget and on transit despite her reservations.

Though this council has more women, 15, than any other in Toronto history, only Speaker Frances Nunziata, TTC Chair Karen Stintz, Robinson and Berardinetti hold positions of influence.