COLCHESTER’S High Steward has criticised the way the borough council is organised, saying the cabinet system should be scrapped.

Sir Bob Russell, former Colchester MP, mayor and Lib Dem councillor, contacted the council ahead of its policy and public initiatives committee meeting.

He raised concerns about the way the council is run.

Colchester Council has a cabinet of eight councillors who acts as the main governing body of the council.

The councillors are each responsible for a portfolio, including waste, housing, culture and business.

Sir Bob said the current set up was not democratic because it “denies all 51 democratically elected councillors having the same democratic rights in making decisions”.

He said: “Putting most powers in the hands of just eight councillors is not democratic.

“It is anti-democratic, in particular, to exclude the 25 councillors who are members of the largest political group on the council, the Conservatives.

“It is also wrong the 18 back bench councillors of the parties represented on the Cabinet are also excluded from the decisions made.

“All 51 councillors have an equal mandate of legitimacy, with each councillor having been elected by residents. All should thus have an equal say.”

Parliament has given local authorities the right to revert to a committee system, in preference to a cabinet system, so all councillors can be involved in the decision-making process.

He said: “I applaud the council in holding a public meeting to encourage residents to put forward their ideas to improve the borough – but what the council also needs to do is to restore democratic involvement of all 51 councillors.

“When the council puts its own house in order then it will be better placed to engage and involve the public.”

Tim Young (Lab), deputy leader of the council, said it was vital for the administration to be held to account.

He said: “I have experienced both systems, I was elected in 1992 when we had the committee system and it changed to cabinet in 2000.

“In my experience I much prefer cabinet, people are more accountable and as long as you have got the scrutiny level right so we are held to account I find it much more preferable.

“We are dealing with big issues that affect the whole borough. It would be a retrograde step to go back, individual councillors still do lots of work in their communities and they have power.”