A CALL has been made for a new structure of local Government decision making in Shropshire.

Colin Sheward, a member of Ludlow Town Council, wants Shropshire Council to move from cabinet government to an old style committee system.

Mr Sheward, who represents Clee View on Ludlow Town Council, said that he was speaking as an individual and not expressing the views of the authority.

“The leader and cabinet system means that a lot of decisions are being made without proper debate and what we have is a form of sofa government,” he said.

“Having decisions made without a wider discussion is not a good thing.

“Under a committee system a case has to be made and debated with councillors involved at the beginning and the end.”

He said that it is not only opposition councillors that are excluded from the process by a leadership with cabinet model but also members of the controlling party.

“They put up with it because they do not want to rock the boat but I am sure that many do not like it,” Cllr Sheward added.

The councillor said other authorities in the country had been looking at the issue and he intended to discuss the matter with other members of Ludlow Town Council as well as trying to involve the Shropshire Association of Local Councils.