LIBERAL and Labour groups on Wyre Forest District Council have been accused of mischief-making after tabling 63 questions for tonight's meeting.

Coun Frank Baillie, holder of the council's resources portfolio, said he believed the two groups were making a concerted effort to swamp the Health Concern administration.

"I think it's a disgraceful exercise on the part of the two groups. It's a pathetic way of justifying their existence," he said.

The council's ruling group is Health Concern, with 21 members, while the remaining 21 seats are divided between Conservative, Liberal, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent.

Coun Baillie said he was speaking as an individual and not as a spokesman for the Health Concern group, which is composed of independent members and has no political background.

He said he believed the Labour and Liberal groups had colluded, as the questions for tonight's meeting cover 26 topics and were all different.

"It's an exercise in vexatious politicking and a pathetic way of justifying their existence," he said.

"They are putting the administration and the council officers to a whole pile of trouble to get the answers to the questions they have raised."

Coun Mike Oborski, leader of the Liberal group, said his group had raised 19 questions, some of which had several parts requiring yes or no answers that should not take up much officer time.

"There has been no collusion whatsoever. I can say, hand on heart, that we have not said a word to Labour or any other party," he said.

Nine of the Liberals' questions referred to budget issues, because of concerns that the current administration was not progressing speedily enough with a programme of strategic reviews.

"The whole point is that we identified a two-year budgetary process and there is a massive shortfall in the budget for next year," he said.

Other questions referred to topics ranging from the local government pay claim to housing points anomalies and skateboard facilities, said Coun Oborski.

Coun Jamie Shaw, leader of the Labour group, confirmed that there had been no collusion.

His group had tabled 20 questions on subjects including Kidderminster town centre, Stourport town centre and public toilet provision.

"They are all perfectly genuine questions on services provided, or supposed to be provided, by the district council.

"Because we no longer have so many committees and they are all decided by the executive, we have to make use of questions at council meetings to show what we think are the priorities," he said.