Councillors clash over changes to governance

Councillors have clashed over changes to how a council deals with petitions, complaints and questions.

Reform UK leaders at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council say the amendments to the constitution will make the authority 'clearer, more efficient and more accountable to the people'.

But opposition Conservative councillors claim the opposite, saying the changes will reduce transparency and make it more difficult to hold the administration to account.

The changes were debated at the first ordinary full council meeting following Reform's victory in the local elections in May.