Redbridge Labour has been accused of “making a mockery and farce” of local democracy after changes to the council’s committees. 

Under the new system, Conservative opposition group leader Cllr Paul Canal will no longer be guaranteed a role as chair of the overview committee, which scrutinises key council decisions. 

From May this year, the chair of the overview and scrutiny committee will be selected by a vote of its members, who are mostly Labour councillors. 

Speaking at a full council on January 19, Conservative councillor Linda Huggett said “impartial scrutiny and genuine local democracy” would die under the new system. 

She said: “I cannot agree that the overview committee loses the independence of being chaired by the opposition leader, who has the important role of scrutinising the cabinet reports – reports that might otherwise not be included in the agenda. 

“The primary role of scrutiny is to hold cabinet to account and this can only be accomplished by independent committees reviewing changes made by cabinet. It is vital that they remain impartial and not prejudiced by bias. 

“These changes will affect all backbenchers on both sides. My concern is that if any backbencher has the audacity to challenge the ruling cabinet’s diktat, they will either effectively be sidelined, removed from the committee or lose the party whip due to speaking out. 

“It makes scrutiny a complete mockery and farce and further restricts all backbenchers’ rights to challenge cabinet decisions, as they will either be ignored or outvoted.” 

Council leader Jas Athwal dismissed the Conservatives’ complaints of “undue process or underhandedness” and warned Cllr Huggett to “be careful” about how she spoke in the council chamber. 

He said the Conservatives had been invited to discuss the changes in a private constitutional working group but none had turned up. 

He added: “It would have been nice if at least one of the Conservative members turned up at the panel to express their dismay or offer their view. 

“That was the point that they could have come in and altered the way things were going forward and fed into the process – and we would have listened.” 

The rearrangement of the scrutiny committees was recommended by the council’s corporate director of strategy, Julian Ellerby. 

In a report late last year, Mr Ellerby described the current system as “no longer fit for purpose” and called for “greater inclusivity and involvement” by councillors to help Redbridge Council find solutions to its challenges. 

The changes will also see Redbridge’s scrutiny committees – public meetings where councillors can question council policies – increase from six to eight. 

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Current scrutiny committees such as “people”, “place” and “education” will be renamed to align with themes of the council’s corporate plan. 

The themes include homes and neighbourhoods, clean and green, health and care, safe Redbridge, and children and young people. 

The majority Labour group unanimously approved the new system.