CITY leaders in York are facing fresh claims of dodging scrutiny after calling off their latest meeting.

The June public meeting of City of York Council’s cabinet was called off by the ruling Labour group, but their political opponents have produced figures which they say show residents are being “kept in the dark” about crucial issues.

The Liberal Democrats said the cancellation meant the cabinet has met 11 times in the last year under Labour, compared with 21 times during the Lib Dems’ last 12 months in power, and that monthly decision sessions for individual cabinet members have been “significantly reduced”.

The group said that of the 11 decision sessions scheduled for each leading councillor’s portfolio area, council leader James Alexander had held just two and cancelled the last nine, with three being held for the corporate services area, four for education and six for crime. Coun Alexander said his group had taken “positive action” during their time in office and June’s cabinet meeting was not held due to a “lack of business”.

Lib Dem leader Carol Runciman said: “Full cabinet meetings are essential to the democratic process as they give the chance to properly examine the work and policies of Labour, so it is deeply worrying they are taking more decisions outside these meetings and behind closed doors.”

She plans to raise the issue with the authority’s chief executive Kersten England.

Conservative leader Ian Gillies branded the cabinet “an embarrassment to the city” and accused Labour of “ineptitude and control-freakery”, while Green leader Andy D’Agorne said: “Decisions are still being made, but the question is how Labour are being held accountable.”

Coun Alexander said: “Residents want to see positive action, not having meetings for the sake of having meetings.

“The Lib Dems used to enjoy this costly bureaucracy to give the illusion of activity. From June 2009 until when the Lib Dems left office in May 2011, my Lib Dem predecessor cancelled 13 of his 24 decision sessions and now they complain because one cabinet meeting is cancelled because of lack of business.”