YORK’S council leader, James Alexander, has come under fresh fire over controversial plans for decisions to be made behind closed doors.

The ruling Labour cabinet at City of York Council intends to scrap publicly accessible “decision sessions” for individual cabinet members, with some matters instead being dealt with in “routine meetings” with officers.

Labour say the move will save time and money, but opposition parties say Labour is reducing the public’s access to democracy.

Liberal Democrat Ian Cuthbertson said: “In the election in 2011, Labour made a manifesto pledge to increase public engagement with the council if they won. Now, less than a year on, they are planning to banish the public from the decision-making process by allowing Cabinet members to make decisions behind closed doors.

“If he thinks these plans are right, Coun Alexander should explain himself.

“The residents of York deserve to know why he doesn’t want them in the room when important decisions are being taken.”

Coun Alexander said yesterday that Coun Cuthbertson had never contacted him with such concerns, but Government fundings cuts had forced the council to save money.

He called the decision session meetings “bizarre bureaucracy” and said public meetings would continue for important big decisions, but that there would be no additional burden to taxpayers for everyday decisions.

The new process would be the same as at North Yorkshire County Council and most other councils.