OPPOSITION councillors are furious that they have been removed from key positions on Sedgefield Borough Council.

The ruling Labour Party group did not have room for the opposition as chairman or vice-chairman of any committees when the allocations were announced at the authority's annual meeting.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Huntington said the ruling went against comments made in two recent reports on how the council is run.

Coun Huntington, previously chairman of one of the council's scrutiny committees, described the decision as undemocratic.

He said: "When this new council took office under the new leadership there was the start of optimism amongst us all. There was transparency, and I personally believed things were working well.

"I thought we were moving forward. I'm not annoyed, but I'm disappointed because by doing this we are taking a backwards step. In this particular case, I'm afraid old Labour is rearing its ugly head again."

Councillor Jim Wayman, of the 2003 Alliance group, said: "I thought we were making progress by introducing and involving opposition members in high positions. This is obviously not the case, but having said that, it is our intention to work with the Labour group and the cabinet and make progress."

But Councillor Bob Fleming, the council leader, said opposition members would still have an important role to play in scrutinising council decisions.

He said: "I would be very disappointed if some members assume that only by being appointed a chairman of a committee can they perform an effective role in overview and scrutiny.

"The members of these committees have a right to participate in a number of ways. I'm personally committed to all-party engagement."