QUESTIONS are being asked about a controversial 'block' into an open debate over job cuts at Worcester City Council.

At least three senior members of staff have departed recently, with Conservative Councillor Andy Roberts, a former cabinet member, trying to probe into it.

But he has been banned from questioning the city's Labour leadership on it publicly, after the authority's legal chief insisted it would identify the ex-workers.

All three of them worked on key environmental issues, with one responsible for creating the successful Poowatch initiative and the others overseeing issues like bin collections and Astwood cemetery.

Worcester News:

During a full council meeting on Tuesday Cllr Roberts said he wanted to pay tribute to their work, only to be told it could not be done publicly.

The stance sparked a furious response, with Cllr Marc Bayliss, the Tory's group leader, angrily pointing fingers at the Labour benches at one point and accusing the Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Paul Denham, of an "abuse of power".

"In over 15 years I have never known a question be 'struck out' like this," he said.

Cllr Denham had taken advice from Tim O' Gara, the legal services manager, before striking the question out on the grounds it could identify the ex-workers.

Cllr Roberts was only allowed to ask his question after the press and public were asked to leave the chamber and step outside.

Worcester News:

After the meeting Cllr Roberts said: "It's an extraordinary situation - I made it clear I wanted to talk about the 'posts' being made redundant and seek clarity on that, I didn't have to name any people.

"We recently lost a chief executive after less than two years who got leaving presents, a speech, but at the same time we've also seen other good staff leave us but apparently we're 'not allowed to talk about it'.

"They've disappeared into the night, uncelebrated and forgotten about - I'm going to take some advice on the ruling, those individuals did some good work."

But Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's Labour leader, yesterday said he took exception to the row, saying the shouting and finger-pointing of Cllr Bayliss was "typical of his behaviour".

A post belonging to one of the departing workers is frozen, while for the other two positions new roles are being created in the same service area in a restructure.