FOUR members of Falmouth Town Council who accused their fellow councillors of running a closed shop, not allowing certain people to sit on committees, were themselves accused of trying to undermine the council.

Councillors Mathew McCarthy, Oliver Cramp, both Liberal Democrats, and Independents Vicky Eva and Steve Eva have formed the Falmouth Fairer non-party political group saying they want to provide a “more effective voice for our residents within the council.”

At Monday night’s meeting of the council, Mr McCarthy put forward a motion calling on the council to change the way it appoints its committees: “As the council is made up of our group of four councillors and 12 other councillors who belong to no formal council group, we would like to hold one quarter of the positions on all committees and sub-committees,” he said.

“We have proposed this because as a new councillor I have wanted to get involved and wanted to know how certain decisions are made, but feel we are being excluded from doing so.”

Town clerk Mark Williams said the move would mean the council’s standing orders would need to be re-written which would create a large amount of work: “My advice is it’s a sledge hammer to crack a nut,” he said. “It’s unnecessary and undesirable.”

Defending Mr McCarthy’s proposal, Mr Eva said: “He has come in and not had a chance to get onto any committee where he can further his ambitions and provide his expertise. If you are not going to support the motion at least give him a chance to sit on the committees he wants to sit on. We have got five or six people who run this council.”

Mrs Eva added: “I do feel there are some very cliquey groups who all vote each other in and get the places they want to be.”

The four came in for immediate criticism from their colleagues. Councillor Trish Minson said: “This council is not here to further people’s ambitions. There are ways Councillor McCarthy could contribute to this council. There are areas where his youth might be of benefit, such as the Dracaena playground and the skate park.”

Councillor Candy Atherton said: “The work we have as a council is quite challenging and to then ask the clerk to go away and restructure the way we operate is not acceptable. I would encourage Councillor McCarthy to get involved with Dracaena, students and the university.”

Mr McCarthy responded by saying he wanted to be involved with the budget setting: “All we want to do is get involved, have our say and represent our wards properly and we don’t feel we are being allowed to do that.”

Councillor Steve Gray hit back: “You need to conduct yourself in a fit and proper manner. Lots of things have gone on that have served to undermine what we are trying to do here. Whether that’s been done in ignorance or deliberately I don’t know. Quite clearly there are things going on which are just trying to show us in a bad light.”

At the end of a lengthy debate, Mr McCarthy’s motion was defeated by 11 votes to four.