The drive for cabinet-style local government is New Labour through and through. It forms part of Tony Blair's project to modernise Britain, and would see councils reformed in the image of his Government, concentrating the decision-making process in the hands of a strong leader and a few others.

No one should doubt the need for change. Local authorities are often hidebound by bureaucracy. Councillors can spend endless hours in relatively insignificant meetings. The great advantage of the cabinet model is that it would speed up the decision-making process.

Unfortunately, the system as it stands is badly flawed. There is no obligation for the all-powerful cabinet to conduct its meetings in public. Decisions affecting thousands of people could be held behind closed doors.

That deeply-worrying prospect loomed large over York, due to bring in a one-year trial of cabinet government in May. The ruling Labour group on the council looked set to conduct cabinet meetings in secret.

Last April leader Coun Rod Hills said cabinet meetings would probably not be held in the public domain. Even as late as October he was suggesting that the public, press and opposition councillors could be excluded from cabinet meetings.

So his promise yesterday that the new system will be fully open is an extremely welcome change of heart. It was a courageous decision - the Government appears to be encouraging councils to conduct cabinet business behind closed doors - but it is the right one.

Private meetings would have damaged local democracy. The fundamental right for people to scrutinise and question their elected representatives would have been eroded. Instead of bringing the council closer to the people - a key intention of the reforms - closed meetings would have created deep-rooted suspicion among the voters.

We congratulate the council on its renewed commitment to public accountability, and hope other authorities considering reform, such as Selby and Ryedale, will make an equally strong pledge to open government.

Democracy is like justice. It must be seen to be done.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.