by MIKE ADDELMAN

SWEEPING changes have been proposed for the way key services such as education and social services will be governed in Bromley -- sparking fury among opposition councillors.

Liberal Democrat councillors plan to abolish the council's four service committees and replace them with an "executive" of nine councillors overseeing three "area-based" committees.

But Conservative group leader Councillor Michael Tickner accused the plan of being undemocratic and claimed it would turn some councillors into "little tsars".

Council co-leader and Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Chris Maines, one of the forces behind the idea, argued the changes would increase voter participation in council affairs.

Education, environment, leisure and social services will all be administered by the committees of 20 councillors based in Beckenham, Bromley and Chislehurst and Orpington.

Coun Maines expects the proposals to go ahead on October 1 next year, after a vote at a full council meeting on October 30 followed by public consultation.

Coun Tickner said his group would be opposing the plan.

He added: "Executive meetings will just be a rubber stamp for decisions taken by an executive councillor and his officer.

"The real decisions affecting peoples lives will be taken behind closed doors.

"We support a continuation of the present system."

Coun Maines, who is also chairman of the policy and resources committee, said: "The area committees will mean residents will have a greater say in the running of the council.

"The public will be entitled to attend these meetings which will meet in their own locality.

"We have done this as a response to the Government's Local Government Act."

The act, which has yet to come into force, will force most councils in the UK to abolish the existing committee system of local government.