BOLTON’S Tory leader will this week call on the council to reverse changes it has made that he believes will “dilute the democratic process” in the borough.

Cllr David Greenhalgh will submit a motion to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday evening criticising the constitutional changes including a time limit on meetings and the exclusion of minority parties from cabinet portfolio meetings.

The changes were rubber stamped at May’s full council meeting — but that meeting coincided with the new mayor’s inauguration, where it is tradition that councillors do not raise objections to proposed motions.

The changes include a move to only allow opposition parties with enough elected members to make-up 10 per cent of the authority the right to sit at executive member meetings — where key policies are signed off.

Prior to this, the Liberal Democrats were allowed a presence at such meetings — and UKIP feels it should now be involved as well, having raised its number of councillors to five at last month’s elections — but only the Tories will now qualify.

Significant changes have also been brought in concerning the meetings of the full council.

Whereas previously meetings have gone on long in to the night, a new “guillotine” has been brought in meaning meetings must finish by 10.30pm, unless the mayor states otherwise.

Councillors reading out motions have also had their allotted time to speak halved, from 10 minutes to five minutes and councillors must submit any questions they wish to ask the leader of the council two days before the meeting — which is a day earlier than previously.

While he held his tongue last month, Cllr Greenhalgh now plans to launch a stinging attack on the ruling Labour group, accusing them of reversing a proud tradition of political inclusivity and accountability.

He will propose a motion which states: “This council has always been historically, in political terms, an inclusive one: members of opposition parties playing an active role in the forming of policy; in scrutiny; and within the overall decision-making process.

“Indeed, on many occasions, members of all parties, putting their political differences to one side to work together for the best outcome for Bolton.

“This council believes that the recent decision to exclude minor opposition parties from Cabinet Portfolio Meetings is a backward step, and one which threatens this proud tradition, and should be reversed.”

He will add: “This council also believes that recent changes to the way Full Council conducts its business all serve to dilute the democratic process and overall accountability of this Council; and to the residents of this town, those who elect us, it appears we are reducing, wherever possible, time spent on debating and challenging issues that impact on their lives.”

The council has previously stated that the 10 per cent attendance principle has always been in place in the constitution.