BRENTWOOD Council has laughed off claims they’re “running scared of proper scrutiny” after Conservative’s wanted a meeting moved which clashed with their party conference later this month.

The Accord administration said the date of the audit and scrutiny meeting, September 30, was set at annual council when every member was present. Certain accounts must also be signed off on the same day.

The administration claim Tories would rather “party with Boris” than represent those who elected them.

Councillor Graeme Clark, who chairs the audit committee, said: “"Last year, the Tories moved the meeting forward to avoid the clash, even though the accounts weren't ready so they could all go off and party with their party colleagues showing, once again, how their party is more important than their role in representing residents of Brentwood."

See more in next week’s Weekly News.