A FORMER leader of Hyndburn Council has called for the public to be allowed into the authority's policy meetings.

Tory group leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said the meetings were used to debate things that used to be discussed in open committee.

He added: "They are debating behind closed doors matters that were debated in the open, like traffic calming."

Coun Britcliffe said the latest topic was the possibility of a postal vote election in Hyndburn next May.

"It has got to go to council for approval but I think the debate should be taking place in public.

"I keep raising this but I the response I get is that it's debated in public because it goes to cabinet. But there are so many items on a cabinet agenda it's just a rubber stamp."

The Conservative group set up the policy boards as part of the modernisation process while it still ruled the council last November.

Coun Britcliffe said the intention was that they would be like the old working groups where policy was decided out of the spotlight, then put to committees.

"But now the policy boards are being used for making decisions," Coun Britcliffe said.

Council leader Ian Ormerod denied the board meetings were being used to make decisions.

"The decisions are made at cabinet," he said.

"He set them up and he didn't set them up to be open to the public or the press. We are discussing nothing at all that will not be forwarded to the cabinet.

"All minutes of the policy board go to the cabinet. That's no different than when he operated them."