A GWENT council is accused of shunning democracy and accountability following a series of controversial appointments.

The Labour group of Caerphilly county borough council has filled every chair and vice chair of the scrutiny committees with their own members for the second year running.

This is contrary to guidelines issued last year by the National Assembly's local government Sue Essex.

Following controversy surrounding last year's scrutiny committee appointments, Sue Essex stated in correspondence with Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge dated December 21, 2004: "The Welsh Assembly Government supports the principle of political balance amongst chairs of overview and scrutiny committees.

"This will be reflected in revised statutory guidance on political structures which will issue for consultation in the new year.

"I am aware that my statement of support for political balance was made after local authorities had made their appointments to overview and scrutiny committees.

"County and county borough councils will have the opportunity to reconsider appointments at their AGMs next year."

Independent Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said the Labour ruling group ignored Assembly guidelines at last week's AGM.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is the death of democracy in Caerphilly county borough council," said councillor Etheridge.

"We are going back to the bad old days of Labour dinosaurs in the Valleys. I think openness, accountability, and transparency are the losers here, as what they have done reminds me of the Soviet Union."

Penmaen councillor and deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group, Allan Pritchard said: "Here you have a Labour-controlled authority operating outside of the guidelines issued by the Labour-controlled Assembly. The Labour party are preaching one thing but when it comes to the chalk face they are doing another and it smacks of them closing ranks."

Leader of council Harry Andrews said: "The Labour authority is almost one year old and we took over the council with a lot of new members and with a lot of new responsibilities.

"I feel that those elected to the chair and vice-chair positions deserve another opportunity to continue the good progress they have made up until now."

He added: "Opportunities have been on offer to opposition councillors to get involved in a couple of important issues, such as licensing and the accommodation sub committee, and there has been a failure to show enthusiasm.

"This has left me concerned about their commitment to carrying out the work expected of them by the local authority."