A RIFT appears to have developed in the Conservative - Lib Dem coalition running York council, after the Tory council boss told two Lib Dems to stand down.

Cllr Keith Aspden and Nigel Ayre – both Liberal Democrats – have been asked to stand down from their executive seats, but senior council staff have not revealed details of the row behind their alleged actions.

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This evening the situation appeared to escalate when the two councillors' Lib Dem colleagues stayed away from a key meeting.

Cllr Andrew Waller, a one time council leader who is now executive member for the environment, tweeted: "Lack of meaningful response to questions today following the actions of Cllr Carr&snr officers mean that I will not be at Executive tonight."

A statement from the Lib Dem group confirmed that Cllr Waller and the party's other remaining member on the ruling executive had sent their apologies.

“Councillors Waller and Runciman sent their apologies to this evening’s Executive Meeting. Councillor Runciman briefly attended the meeting to speak to one item relating to her portfolio," the statement said.

It said that following the day's events, Liberal Democrat Councillors were "pressing for assurances as to how the joint administration will continue to function in the best interests of the city."

“The Liberal Democrat Group will now meet to decide the best way forward and we will continue to work hard representing our residents,” the statement added.

Democracy campaigner Gwen Swinburn spoke in the public participation session at the start of the executive meeting, and said she was uncomfortable with the occurences of the last 24 hours.

Previous executive members and even a leader have been reported to standards boards, but proceedings have all happened behind closed doors without public knowledge, she said.

The suspensions coming 24 hours before the executive meeting was "especially worrying" she added.

"It's so dispiriting that this coalition having worked fairly well to date has now been put at risk. I can't help but think many other avenues that could have been taken that were less inflammatory and less disruptive to our democracy," Ms Swinburn said

Most of executive meeting went ahead without the Lib Dems, but the party's Cllr Carol Runciman, who is executive member for health and social care, went into the meeting to speak about and vote on a number of projects in her area - including the possible closure of Woolnough House care home.