Mayor hears jeers after meeting time runs out

10:15am Tuesday 5th December 2006

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A FULL council meeting ended with jeers and cries of "shame" after opposition councillors were cut short.

Greenwich mayor Councillor Harry Singh closed the meeting at 10.30pm, as is precedure.

It was the first time in four months opposition councillors had the chance to put questions forward to the leading Labour group.

In total, 58 written questions were submitted by the opposition and answered in writing by cabinet members.

But because time ran out, members did not get a chance to discuss the answers or pose supplementary questions.

The meeting was closed to cries of "Shame on you, Mr Mayor" from Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Webbewood, followed by jeers from Tory members.

Councillors had discussed a £25m four-year savings plan and heard a presentation by Superintendent Carol Grigg outlining Greenwich's policing plan for 2007/8. Ms Grigg leads a police council partnership team.

Tory councillor Andy Jennings, who is also shadow finance member, said: "Before we knew it the meeting had been closed and we were prevented from discussing the questions.

"Democracy was clearly not on the agenda."