A LOCAL authority has voted to implement an improvement plan - despite one councillor labelling it “a stupid document”.

The plan for Ryedale District Council contains ten actions designed to improve the authority’s efficiency.

It was created in the wake of a bruising peer review in October by members of other councils.

Among the actions include a commitment to “clear, firm and consistent chairing of council meetings”, for “members to agree and commit to an agreed set of values, behaviours and ways of working”, and for “members to respect and use the clear majority and mandate of the ruling group” - currently the Conservatives.

But Cllr John Clark, leader of the opposition Liberal group, said that opposition members would not be suppressed by the plan. “We’ll go on complaining,” he said. “We’ll go on questioning.”

He added: “It’s a stupid document.”

But council leader Linda Cowling said: “I think one thing you’re forgetting is that the peer review came into this council and they spoke to members and staff and they listened to recording of full council.

“Nobody wanted to go through this process but the thing is we had to save money. This will be a different way of running a council but I know it will be a successful way.”