THE leader of a political party claims it will have virtually no voice under planned changes to the council's decision-making system.

The Canvey Independent Party, which represents more than 40,000 people in Castle Point, has been told it will not be part of the cabinet system likely to replace the committees that currently make all the decisions for the borough.

The party currently has 15 councillors sitting on committees. None will be chosen to be one of the seven cabinet members who will each take on a specific responsibility for areas such as housing or planning under the new system.

These positions will all be filled by the ruling Tory group and it is those councillors, sitting as an executive group, who will make all the decisions.

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Indepen-dent Party, said: "We at least expected to be given the chairmanship of the scrutiny committee, which can call in cabinet decisions, but we have been told we won't have this either.

"It will be chaired by a Tory, but how can you have a scrutiny system where the ruling group scrutinises itself?

"It's a nonsense and a sad day for democracy."

Councillors will vote on the next stage in the process of transferring to the new system at a special council meeting, on November 19.

The new set-up also involves two policy committees, which the Canvey Independents will be able to sit on.

But Mr Blackwell said: "Policy groups are ineffective. Anything they decide on can be kicked out by the cabinet. We will be protesting stongly and voting against this."

Pam Challis, leader of the council, said the new system would speed up the decision making process.

She said: "If councillors give notice to speak then they can, otherwise it is down to the discretion of the leader. It is all very open."