COUNCILLORS have cancelled one of the most important meetings of the political calendar – set to be the focal point of a celebration of democracy.

Each October, Basildon councillors invite schoolchildren into the council chamber to question them over topical issues and watch full council in action. The event is part of local democracy week.

Yet despite the nation having dire economic problems, Basildon’s ruling Tories say they scrapped the meeting, planned for next Thursday, because there was nothing to talk about.

There are just six full council meetings a year and they are rarely cancelled.

Next week’s, ironically, was due to discuss an item sent to it by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee about claims of poor communication within the authority.

Labour councillor Phil Rackley is calling for it to be rescheduled as an emergency extraordinary meeting on the same date.

He said: “It is both wrong and undemocratic the Tory administration has cancelled it on the alleged grounds there is no business. There is the outstanding issue of improving communications.

“It is supposed to be democracy week when local school pupils come and express their views.

“What a dreadful example when the administration seeks to stifle debate by cancelling meetings.”

The council planned to ask all councillors to turn up for the children, but they didn’t want to attend without the full council meeting taking place, so this plan was dropped.

Youth council members will now grill councillors before the next scheduled full council meeting on December.

Mr Buckley maintained there were not enough items on the agenda to justify meeting, but accepted it was unusual.

He said: “There were just two questions from councillor Nigel Smith and one agenda item, which was not ready, and no motions.

“That is not enough business to justify a meeting.

“The fact is we have an ineffective opposition, who should have put forward motions if they wanted debate.”