A Labour member of Tory-controlled Monmouthshire County Council has criticised a decision to change the select committees. The select committees were set up to scrutinise the decisions of the cabinet and were always chaired by an opposition member, but that is now changing.

At last week's full council meeting it was agreed to scrap the present system in favour of select committees becoming cross-cutting and chaired by a member who is chosen annually from any party. It was also agreed that a vice chairman should be appointed in the same way.

Cllr Mike Smith said: " I feel this is a huge move and a step in the wrong direction. We came up with a system we felt would work. The chief executive said it worked OK for a hung council but I vehemently disagree. "The role of select committees is to challenge the decisions of the executive and to end the tradition of appointing a chairman from the opposition group removes another opportunity to challenge whatever party is in power. The ability to challenge the executive is crucial."

Council leader, Cllr Andrew Crump, said a large amount of work had been completed on their survey on the role of select committees which involved a questionnaire to every member.

Opposition leader Cllr Rob Griffiths admitted the system did not work as effectively as it should and there were huge gaps in the scrutiny process. Cllr Verona Nelmes added: "There's a political factor in select committees no matter who chairs them."

Cllr Bob Greenland agreed. He said: "I have the most problem with select committees which are adversarial. There is a non-party political stance with the planning committee and it works well. I would like to see less party political work in the council and party political lines dropped."

Cllr Pam Birchall agreed and said all select committees should be politically free. "Members should go in there as a member of the council not as a member of a political party."