CITY of York Council's ruling Liberal Democrat group has been accused of "cynically" changing the council's constitution for political purposes.

Sandy Fraser, Labour councillor for Micklegate, went on the attack after Liberal Democrat Madeleine Kirk was elected chairman of the council's scrutiny committee.

The council's constitution stated the committee must be chaired by an opposition councillor.

But the Liberal Democrat group has used its majority to force through a motion removing the obligation to have an opposition member in the chair.

Speaking at Tuesday night's full council meeting, Coun Fraser said "This amendment is an abuse of the council's constitution, of this council and of the people of York."

But Steve Galloway, council leader, hit back, saying: "Does Councillor Fraser so quickly forget that it was his group in 2001 that took the chairmanship of the scrutiny management committee when it had a majority of one. We have tried to be fair to you over the last few weeks. Unlike Labour when they had a majority of one, we have given you a fair share of the scrutiny board chairs."

Meanwhile, Labour councillor and teenagers' scrutiny panel member Paul Blanchard today attacked the Liberal Democrats over what he said were the group's plans to cut the scrutiny budget.

Coun Blanchard said: "At council I asked how Councillor Galloway's aim of reducing the scrutiny budget matched up with manifesto commitments to expand the role of scrutiny, and the recent increase in the number of scrutiny boards."

But Coun Kirk said: "I don't know what Councillor Blanchard is talking about. The scrutiny budget was increased in this financial year compared to the last.

"My call is for these arguments over scrutiny to stop and for us to get on with the important job of scrutinising."

Updated: 10:44 Thursday, July 10, 2003