THE leader of City of York Council's opposition Labour group has raised serious concerns about public consultation on next year's budget.

At a meeting of the executive tomorrow, Labour councillors will oppose proposals that Coun Steve Galloway, the Lib Dem leader of the council, should be given the final say in approving questions for the next budget consultation.

In previous years, while leaders of the political groups have been able to suggest and comment on proposed questions, the final decision has rested with the council's senior officers in charge of communications and research - who have ensured that the questions are robust and fair.

Labour group leader Dave Merrett said: "It is essential the council consults properly on its budget proposals, and really listens to people, and hopefully next year the Lib Dems can avoid making such damaging and unpopular decisions as they did this year with the parking charges."

Other options to be laid on the table include a groundbreaking city-wide referendum on the 2005/06 budget, which would give 140,000 voters a direct say in council spending and cost up to £60,000.

"One way the council can try to ensure the budget reflects the wishes of York people is by consulting thoroughly, but the questions have to be fair and straightforward if the results aren't to be distorted," said Coun Merrett.

"Ultimately non-political council staff - who are experts in consultation and research - should decide the final wording of questions.

"Residents need to be confident that they will not be asked leading or biased questions - and we have heard complaints about biased questions on parking in the last Council Talkabout.

"When Labour ran the council, we allowed politicians to make suggestions and comment on what questions should be asked - but the final judgement on the questions was - quite rightly - up to the professional officers."

Council leader Steve Galloway said the wording of the questions was a "relatively minor matter".

He said it was the council's intention that the authority's marketing and communications officers would lead the way in putting together questions. "They know how to ask questions and get answers that statistically reflect the views of the community."

But Coun Galloway said any choices put to the public were essentially political. He said: "The real issue we will be considering tomorrow is to what degree local residents should be able to influence these fundamental choices about priorities."

Updated: 08:35 Monday, August 02, 2004