ANGRY councillors walked out of a Teignbridge Council meeting in protest over the political appointment to chair a key committee.

Liberal Democrats voted in Cllr Suzanne Sanders (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) to lead the overview and scrutiny board, which monitors the work of all other council committees.

Opposition councillors argued the post should have gone to a member who was not part of the council’s ruling Lib Dem administration, but they were outvoted.

‘It’s a disgrace,’ fumed South Devon Alliance group leader Cllr Richard Daws.

The council also voted another Lib Dem, Cllr John Parrott, representing Kenn Valley, as vice-chairman of the same committee.

Cllr Daws argued the move went against best practice and against recommendations from a recent review of the council by the Local Government Association.

But Cllr Sanders said while the peer review said appointing an opposition chairman should be considered, it isn’t compulsory.

Cllr Daws said the Lib Dems had failed to take on board the views of the LGA review and now dominated all positions of power in a council where they hold just over half the seats.

The Lib Dems have 26 seats, compared to 21 held by the opposition.

‘This is unsurprising from a council that has ignored the town of Newton Abbot,’ said Cllr Daws.

‘This isn’t democracy just a dressed up form of dictatorship.’

Conservative group leader Cllr Phil Bullivant led the walkout saying: ‘It is extremely perturbing we are seeing domination by the Liberal Democrats. We are completely losing the bi-partisan approach this council should be having.’