A SHAKE-UP in the way Worcestershire County Council approaches its budget deliberations has been forced through, sparking controversy.

Opposition political parties will now be required to hand in their own suggested changes on County Hall's spending plans five days before they are voted on in public.

The move is politically significant because until now rival Labour, Lib Dem and Green politicians used the annual budget setting meeting each February to turn up on the day with their own 'alternative budgets', putting the Conservatives on the spot.

The Tories claim the old tactic of "pulling rabbits out of hats" was a political trap by opposing groups to generate media publicity, and say the change will allow alternative proposals to be examined "in detail" by finance officers before the day of each debate.

But the other parties have called the manoeuvre a "disgrace" and "a stitch-up", saying it is aimed at stifling debate and could result in their good ideas being nicked.

A heated debate took place about it yesterday, with the procedure being voted through despite the resistance.

The move follows private talks between all the parties about possible alterations to the council's political procedures.

Councillor Anthony Blagg, the deputy leader, said 'on the day' budget amendments may be viewed as a "cynical political ploy".

But Lib Dem group leader Cllr Liz Tucker called the move "an absolute travesty".

"The whole reason why we were looking at our procedures was to benefit the new council (after May's elections) and give them the best possible lift-off," she said.

"It's been a total failure, I don't see why this one narrow change is being rushed through, and I deeply resent the implication my work, which is often done last minute, is cynical."

She called it "a total disgrace" before Labour councillors agreed, saying there were surprised to see the suggestion come forward.

Labour Councillor Richard Udall said: "For this to work we must have consensus, it can't be forced on (councillors) who don't want it."

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, called it "a stitch-up", adding: "It's the actions of a bunch of chisellers."

But Tory Councillor Marc Bayliss said: "In Worcester we've had a similar process in place for a decade - when it was first introduced I was against it, I thought it was a 'dastardly plan' to curtail the opposition.

"But now I think it's a common sense approach - it gives other groups chance to put forward suggestions and have them looked at properly, and some of them are accepted of course."

He said the opposition could still have their "singing in the bath moment" and take the credit for their own ideas, and insisted the five-day rule would allow for "detailed discussion" first.

Cllr Andy Roberts, a fellow Tory cabinet member, claimed there was some agreement for the change during the private talks, before it "broke down outside the room".

The change was voted through 34-20, and will apply from next month's 2017/18 budget setting debate.