AN "inward-looking and secretive" council has resulted from a decision to revamp council meetings, claims a Redditch councillor.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Nigel Hicks said the new "brisk" style of Redditch's full council meetings limited the opposition's ability to hold the ruling party to account.
Mr Hicks' comments follow Council Leader David Cartwright's pledge, reported in The Advertiser on May 18, to make council meetings "more fun" for residents, giving them more of a voice and improving democracy.
Mr Cartwright said the role of full council was not to debate but to approve the minutes of committees where decisions had already been made.
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