BRENTWOOD Conservatives have accused the council administration of “running scared of proper scrutiny” after scheduling a meeting in the middle of the Tory party conference.

The Tories had asked for the audit and scrutiny meeting on September 30 to be rescheduled.

However, they have been declined, meaning some councillors will not be able to attend.

Councillor John Kerslake, said: “This is disappointing and frankly rather unnecessary.

“All it requires is to bring the date forward a couple of days, so that we can all be there and have the discussion in full and in the open.”