LABOUR members of North Yorkshire County Council yesterday insisted they would not sit on an important scrutiny committee because it has a Conservative chairman.

A member of the ruling Conservative group will be at the head of the committee dealing with corporate policy and audit review matters, under the proposals for cabinet-style local government.

But deputy Labour group leader Councillor Dean Howson said the situation was nonsense and that the Tories were planning to police themselves.

He said: "We will not give their undemocratic plans credibility. During the consultation process on this issue the public made it clear they would not trust the ruling Tory group to police themselves."

Conservative group leader Councillor David Ashton said the complaints should be directed at the Labour Government.

"Under the Government proposals, we would have been able to take all the chairs of scrutiny and cabinet places, effectively excluding the opposition groups. We have not done this," he said.