Council hits back at Tory claims of administrative 'secrecy and sloppiness'

A COUNCIL has disputed claims it has "reduced democratic scrutiny to a farce" amid claims by opponents.

- By TESS RUSHIN

Harborough District Council's Conservative Group had described council meetings run by the Lib Dem/Green/Labour coalition as a "museum of paperwork," but officials have contested that.

The Tories cited a number of examples including meetings they said had been presented with out-of-date minutes.

A Conservative Group spokesman said scrutiny panels were being fed "stale reports long past their sell-by date".

The group said the coalition's "culture of delay and obfuscation" was failing residents and called for urgent reforms to "restore openness and proper democratic oversight".

However, the council has hit back, saying it has implemented a number of governance improvements.

The Conservatives said examples of the so-called "farce" from the coalition included a regulatory committee seeing councillors presented with minutes almost two years out of date.