By Jane Field

Local Government Reporter

jfield@boltoneveningnews.co.uk

A BATTLE over democracy has broken out in Bolton as political leaders disagree over who should be in control of scutinising council policies.

Senior Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative members are embroiled in a row over the role of scrutiny committees.

Their role is to keep an eye on the work of the all-powerful Labour Executive. And with Labour choosing all the chairmen and putting themselves in the seats, the Tories are not happy.

Labour lost three seats in the elections earlier this month and now control the council with a majority of just two.

Conservative leader Councillor Alan Rushton says it is not democratic and he cannot see how proper scrutiny can be done with Labour members in the chairs. He said: "Considering we are supposed to be represented by a forward-looking council I would have thought they would be more accommodating.

"By its very definition it is supposed to scrutinise. The chairmen can refuse to take questions and sideline them.

"Once the Executive has made a decision all that we can do is express an opinion on it.

"We have been feeling our way for the last few months but it is time for a change."

The Liberal Democrats feel the whole system is not working and say an urgent review is needed.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Barbara Ronson claims that, at the moment the committees are not scrutinising -- they are just rubber- stamping. She said: "Changing the chairmen will not change the system. Most of the scrutiny goes on behind the scenes, you don't wait for the committee. The whole thing needs a review.

"We need to look at the way in which the executive members are questioned and how the public gets involved.

"The committees should appoint their own chairman. At the moment the Executive members have a say on who is chairman of their scrutiny committee -- which isn't really fair."

Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth will not give up the top committee seats but said he would consider giving opposition members vice-chairman roles.

He said: "We are still in the planning curve with scrutiny and it is our intention to look at them over the next 12 months."

ALAN RUSHTON: 'It's time for a change'

BARBARA RONSON: 'The whole thing needs a reivew'

BOB HOWARTH: 'We're still in the planning curve'