OUR exclusive report yesterday, revealing proposals to merge the staff and services of Worcester and Malvern Hills councils, has provoked something of a storm.

While other media have been playing catch-up on reporting a proposal that could see job losses across the two authorities, councillors who have been kept in the dark about the plans have reacted with fury.

One Labour councillor in Worcester is seeking legal advice, while a Liberal Democrat member of Malvern Hills council wants a referendum on the proposals.

We find it startling if it is true that councillors outside the cabinet in Worcester have been denied access to the secret report leaked to this newspaper. As we said yesterday, this is such a major proposal that it should be the subject of widespread public debate. Remarkably, it does not appear to have been the subject of debate beyond the ruling Conservative groups of the two councils.

Both councils will no doubt claim to be following legislation with regard to sensitive issues that have a direct effect on staff numbers. It may well be they have followed the letter of the law - but surely local democracy is being damaged in this case.

We are far from convinced that ruling parties, whatever their political hue, should be discussing matters of this importance like some kind of secret society. We accept this proposal is just one money-saving option being considered. But that does not mean it should not be open to public scrutiny at the earliest possible opportunity.