Tories veto moves to involve the public.

11.06.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jul 2007

The Conservatives running Surrey County Council have thrown out Liberal Democrat proposals to increase public involvement in its affairs by agreeing in principle to the webcasting of meetings. They also vetoed proposals to permit members of the public to address meetings of the full Council.

Introducing these proposals, Councillor Stephen Cooksey said "This Council operates in a cocoon isolated from the real world. Debates take place in a chamber situated outside of the County itself, in an atmosphere where there is rarely any public presence and where the media show little interest. Naturally the Conservatives want to keep it that way."

"The Liberal Democrats believe that the Council should encourage the public to be involved and participate - and all means of achieving that should be embraced with enthusiasm."