THE leader of Herefordshire Council has attacked an opposition party leader's suggestion that decisions are being made in secret by saying he would be more aware of what is going on if he attended more meetings.

Cllr Tony Johnson tore into his Lib Dem counterpart Cllr Terry James for saying many members of the public don't believe the authority is democratic.

The debate came during a Notice of Motion submitted during full council at Hereford Shirehall last Friday which was approved by a majority of councillors, a decision which could bring about the end of the current cabinet system.

It asked members to recommend a report be drawn up on an alternative governance arrangement including a "streamlined committee system", plus a cross-party group to oversee the change.

Cllr James, who submitted the idea, said he brought the matter up because of "public disillusionment" over the "highly secretive manner" in which the council operates.

"We are not democratic according to a majority of the public," said Cllr James.

"The council is just a glorified quango.

"We have seen a lot of secret decisions made behind closed doors, and I'm sick and tired of trying to defend decisions that I had no involvement in."

The motion was backed by Independent member Cllr Bob Matthews who called for the council to act in a more transparent manner.

But Cllr Johnson refuted the claim that council leaders were being secretive.

"I get as many emails from the public as anyone else, " he said.

"I have yet to get one complaining about the process by which these decisions are made."

He said he could only find five instances where the public had been excluded, all being on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

"If Cllr James was to attend one or two group leaders meetings he may learn a bit more about the items he doesn't know about," added Cllr Johnson.

"What he doesn't like is that he is not involved in the decision-making process.

"The problem isn't anger out there, it is frustration in here (the council building).

"It is people who wish they were in power but are not."

Cllr Mark Hubbard, of It's Our County, said the council was behind the times when it came to reforming its committees.

His party colleague, Cllr Charles Nicholls, meanwhile, said if his voice doesn't have any influence he "may as well be talking to the flowers".

But cabinet member Cllr Patricia Morgan said if there was a better governance model they would "of course" look at it.

The vote was 36 votes for and one against, with 13 abstentions.