RESIDENTS are being urged to put councillors to the test at a meeting of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet today.

Householders across Stockton recently voted in favour of a new decision-making structure for the council, consisting of a cabinet with a leader elected by the council - a system which has been piloted for more than a year.

Now residents have been invited to the library at Conyers Comprehensive School, Green Lane, Yarm, to see the pilot system in action, in the latest in a series of round-the-borough cabinet meetings.

They will also be able to put their own questions to cabinet members.

Councillor Bob Gibson, leader of the council, said: "We are consulting with the public on the make-up of the new cabinet system, and this is an ideal opportunity for residents across the borough to come and see how it currently works before they express their views.

"Members of the public are always welcome at cabinet meetings and can, at the chairman's discretion, ask questions about any agenda items.

"However, a special question time has been introduced in order to give residents the opportunity to meet cabinet members and ask any questions they may have about issues affecting their lives and communities."