A bid by the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil to hold a Christmas extravaganza at Battersea Power Station has been delayed because of teething problems with the new council set-up.

Not enough councillors turned up to the last two meetings of the licensing committee, meaning they were inquorate.

This has meant a string of licensing decisions could not be made, including whether to grant a temporary licence for the Cirque du Soleil, which is planning another season of its extravagant acrobatic shows starting on November 22.

New fees and arrangements for market traders and various applications for music and dancing licences for bars and pubs have also been put on ice.

The problem happened after the council, along with all other local authorities, was told to change to a system of having a decision-making executive, overview and scrutiny committees and planning and licensing committees.

Licensing used to be decided by a sub-committee, with two councillors enough to form a quorum, but changed to a full committee which needed a minimum of four. But the committee still only has four members, so just one absentee councillor is enough to halt proceedings.

The council said many decisions can be taken by officers under delegated powers and those that cannot have been rescheduled for upcoming meetings.

The Cirque du Soleil was due to be discussed on Thursday night and should still be able to open on time provided all four licensing councillors attended the meeting.

Meanwhile the council has had to change its standing orders so the quorum of the committee can be reduced to three. New members will also be recruited, although according to chairman Councillor Stewart Finn, the specialist knowledge required means not all councillors are suitable.

This is a teething problem caused by the Government forcing us to make these changes, he said.

But Labour licensing committee member Councillor Stuart King said other councils had managed to cope with the changes.

The real problem is Conservative members dont turn up. Not one has been to the last three meetings, he said.

By.Wendy Phillips