A DEBATE was sparked after Stroud District Council’s new leaders announced they were rescheduling the timings of some meetings from daytime to evenings.

The decision provoked a backlash from Conservative members at the council’s AGM on Thursday night – a week after a cross-party co-op of Labour, Lib Dem and Green Party councillors ousted their Tory colleagues from power.

The biggest change will be the switch from 10am to 6pm for monthly development control committee meetings, where members rule on all planning applications made in the district.

"For many years decisions on planning applications have been made during the day," said Cllr Ken Stephens (Lab, Eastington), newly elected chairman of DCC.

"This has meant that members of the public who work in the daytime have been unable to attend meetings about planning applications, even if they are significantly affected."

Another change sees meetings of the new executive policy leaders – formally cabinet – also switched from 10am to 7pm.

Policy leaders will head up provision of services under the council’s soon-to-be-introduced committee structure, which is due to replace the current cabinet system.

The Conservatives said the rescheduling would ‘greatly discriminate’ members of the public unable to attend evening meetings due to limited public transport.

They argued it would also pile added pressure on council officers and asked what consultation had been done before the decision was made.

Cllr Stephens added: "Having daytime meetings means that only retired councillors or those of independent means can easily serve.

"Not all employers are happy for their staff to have one or two days off a month for a daytime meeting."

A full timetable of meetings for 2012/13 can be found on SDC’s website www.stroud.gov.uk