THE deputy leader of the council is calling for Clyde Loakes to be replaced as chairman of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

Cllr John Macklin said Cllr Loakes should be replaced by an independent person following the scandal over the mismanagement of regeneration funds.

There has been a widespread and long-term, systematic failure to correctly administer millions of pounds through the Better Neighbourhoods Initiative and its predecessor the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The LSP, which has banned the press, public and councillors from its meeetings, is the accountable body for the schemes. It is chaired by council leader Clyde Loakes and members include borough police chief Mark Benbow and health boss Sally Gorham.

In an attempt to distance the Liberal Democrats from the fiasco, council deputy leader John Macklin has called for his Labour cabinet colleague to relinquish the LSP chair in order to improve public confidence in the local authority.

Cllr Macklin said: "The gradual and ongoing emergence of these issues over a period of months contributes to an erosion of any trust residents have in their local council, reinforcing the worrying impression that ‘those at the top’ want to keep residents who they perceive to be causing problems at arms length.

"This is wrong, and the council must adopt a new attitude of openness and transparency if we are to regain that trust.

"It is my belief that, when we make mistakes, it is right to promptly address these issues and immediately make the necessary corrections."

Cllr Bob Sullivan, who currently chairs the authority's overview and scrutiny committee, said: "I have long held reservations about the conditions the LSP work under, believing that the lack of scrutiny available to councillors and local people contributes to a diminishing level of confidence amongst residents, seriously undermining the excellent work carried out by our LSP partners on our behalf.

"Efforts need to be made to remedy this unfortunate perception, perhaps through the establishment of publicly held LSP meetings and more widely available and distributed minutes."