Labour councillors blasted the Conservatives over plans to streamline watchdog committees.

The leader of the opposition, Councillor Tony Newman, called plans to cut the number of scrutiny seats from 58 to 42 and half the number of sub-committees from six to three "deeply disturbing".

He said the leader of the council, Mike Fisher was "in the bunker" and added: "After only one year of the Tory regime, it is in office but not in power. It took even John Major's shambolic Government 18 months to reach that state. Tyranny occurs when good men and women stand by and do nothing."

Labour Councillor George Ayres called on the Conservative administration to change its decision: "Scrutiny is the only mechanism we have to hold the council to account."

Councillor Tim Godfrey, chairman of the safer communities sub-committee, said the proposed changes "are not good for this town and not good for democracy".

But Councillor Jan Buttinger, chairman of the scrutiny and overview committee, defended the changes. She said: "Streamlining can be a good thing. We have to change with the times. We can't just stand still."

During the meeting, Labour councillors called for a vote so that the matter of scrutiny re-structure could be deferred.

However, they were out-voted and the recommendations in the report were approved.

After the meeting, Coun Newman said the move would lead to more Conservative councillors getting special responsibility allowances.