CHANGES to the way councils are run will open the door for a return to the days of corruption, it has been claimed.

The accusation came as independent councillors launched a concerted broadside against the switch by Durham County Council to an experimental system that will see it run by a cabinet and leader.

They condemned the fact the ten-strong all-Labour cabinet will meet in private, even though its powers for now will be limited to making recommendations to an executive committee, which will include opposition members and be open to the public.

Details of the authority's new draft constitution were approved by its policy and resources committee on Monday.

But not before Coun Tony Moore warned that it could create the circumstances for a return to the days when architect John Poulson and other businessmen were able to make deals with crooked councillors.

He said: "People are extremely concerned about what is going to happen in this cabinet. We had problems with secret meetings in the past and in my view corruption will start again. That is why our meetings must always be open to the public."

He said many Labour councillors and MPs were also deeply unhappy and suspicious of the new arrangements.

Coun John Armstrong said the authority had to go along with it because it was the law but he was not happy with the changes.

Council solicitor Roger Humphries said similar points had been made by the authority to government. But he said under the arrangements the county council was introducing the cabinet would be nothing more than a preliminary discussion and recommendation-making body.

The real authority would lie with the executive which would meet in public.

And council leader Don Robson said the authority was bound to make changes to the way it is run because the alternative was to have change imposed on it from outside.

And he vowed: "The executive committee will be open to everyone and will remain so for as long I am leader."