THE leader of Warrington Borough Council has been called to appear at the next meeting of the council's scrutiny committee to explain why executive members have requested to see important papers.

Clr Mike Hughes was asked to attend after councillors expressed concern at Tuesday's meeting that the executive had requested that working papers from advisory groups be sent to them before going to the main scrutiny committee.

Clr David Eccles told the committee that there must be clear water between the two branches in the new council system - the 10-member executive and the scrutiny committee.

Clr John Morris agreed, saying: "It seems quite clear to me that the advisory group reports to the scrutiny committee first and then it decides whether to take these matters forward.

"I am rather concerned that working papers should be available for executive members to have sight of. It may be that we decide to set up an advisory group on the executive (later in the year).

"It would be wholly inappropriate if members saw working papers about that group before it got to the parent scrutiny committee.

"The scope for interference is there for all to see. More important than everything is the public perception."

Clr Hughes said that he would have no difficulty in explaining the situation at the next meeting.

He added: "The whole question about the new constitution is that the council should be open and transparent and not have secrets in back pockets."

Within the scrutiny system, four advisory groups look at specific areas, such as education and neighbourhood services, before reporting back to the main committee.