AS INITIAL plans for a system of cabinet government began to filter into York's political arena, fears rose. Choosing a panel of eight select 'Labour MPs' to make decisions smacked of putting power into the hands of a political elite.

There were fears that local government would no longer be seen to be done. Cabinet "ministers" could meet behind closed doors. Agendas might not be published. Important decisions might be publicised only after they had been made. Observers feared democracy in York was about to suffer its greatest attack for decades.

Their concern was fuelled by warnings which came from across the country.

The Evening Press was told by a councillor in North Tyneside that his authority had seen democracy severely damaged since the cabinet's introduction in 1998.

Liberal Democrat Coun Graeme Brett said: "City of York Council should look to us and see how not to do it."

Newspapers nation-wide launched campaigns against their local authorities, challenging systems they claimed promoted excessive secrecy.

Fortunately, as City of York Council leader Rod Hills and his team took their seats for the first time today, those concerns seem to have been listened to.

The cabinet has agreed to publish agendas before each meeting, publicly going into depth on the issues which will be discussed. They will also be posted on the council's internet site.

In one of the greatest moves to safeguard democracy, the Executive Group has thrown the doors of its meetings open to the public and the press - which means decisions will be made in the open.

This was not intended when plans were first laid.

The political structure has also been designed to ensure that the group of eight "ministers" do not have unquestioned control.

Earlier this week, the Shadow Executive of Liberal Democrats met to discuss the Executive's agenda. They can make comments to the Executive about issues to be discussed, or "call in" items for further debate. Following today's meeting, scrutiny committees will look at policies and issues discussed.

But the main check to the new cabinet could not have been forseen when the new system was planned.

By-election victories for the Liberal Democrats in the Bootham and Monk wards have created a hung council - Labour no longer have an overall majority and can be beaten by a combined opposition.

It means in practice, the full council will be the real decision-maker. Any three councillors can call in decisions made by the Executive - meaning they will be voted on by the full council.

Where previously a united Labour group could have supported the Executive and passed their decisions, now opposition members must support them for them to be approved.

Coun Hills admitted: "In reality, the executive will not be making decisions on its own. The key decisions will go to the full council for consideration, and that will be the ultimate decision-maker for controversial and important issues.

"I suspect the decisions that the Executive will make will be those on fairly routine matters."

The concern now surrounds the use of delegated powers.

Officers are able to make decisions, in consultation with Executive members, on a number of issues.

These decisions should still be publicised and can still be called in, but Liberal Democrats say they will be keeping a close eye on the process to ensure decisions made are well documented.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway says: "The key thing is whether or not the average person on the street has the opportunity to influence decisions before the council makes them.

"Our worry is not so much decisions taken by the Executive where checks are in place, but there is a fairly big question mark over delegated powers.

"It is too soon to cry wolf over it, but it's something we will be looking at very closely."