Shropshire Council scraps bid to ban questions

It is understood that Councillor Malcolm Pate has withdrawn the proposal, which was described as an "erosion of democracy" by campaigners.

Councillor Pate, who is leader of the council's Conservative-run administration, had suggested that the ability for supplementary questions to be asked at full council meetings should be scrapped.

Under replacement proposals members of the public will now be able to ask questions at full council meetings, provided they can do so within three minutes. The duration of the public questions section of the meeting will also be limited to 30 minutes.

The initial plans had been revealed by Councillor Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow North, in a blog. He was subsequently asked to take the blog down by the council.

Councillor Boddington welcomed the latest development, but said he felt that the matter would not have been reconsidered were it not made public.

He said: "I think he has done the right thing by backing down. I am quite happy to have public questions limited to three minutes a question, that will make for a far better run meeting.

"I am really glad this has happened. I do not think it would have happened if we had not exposed the fact he was planning to do it in public.

"It is an important right for the public to be able to ask ask questions and address questions but it is equally important for councillors to listen to the public, and if people are so concerned about an issue that they come to speak to council then it has to be an important issue."

Councillor Roger Evans, leader of the council's Liberal Democrat group, said the decision was the right move.

He said: "I was disappointed at the original proposal and I welcome the continued participation of the public in the question time.

"I think it is important that the public have an opportunity to ask questions and also to ask supplementary questions – which as a member of the public is of equal importance to the original question.

"What many councillors do not understand is that council meetings are not only for councillors, they are for the public to hear and be able to ask questions, and for me that is one of the most important parts of a council meeting."

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of the authority's Labour group, said: "The opportunity for people to come along and ask a question, get a reasonable response, and ask a follow up question is a vital and important component of local democracy and people feeling they can hold the council to account.

"We do not want any restriction on the ability of members of the public to exercise their democratic rights."