Filton Tory councillors have issued a statement in response to the news that the local Filton Labour branch, have agreed to discuss Filton Town council matters behind closed doors, prior to meetings. The group do not publish to the public, minutes from meetings they hold, raising concerns how the council reach its decisions.

Rikki Teml, Ann Kenyon, Doug Daniels and Keiran Hyde, Conservative councillors on Filton Town council issued a statement in response to the Labour news:

The Conservative statement said: "Conservative Filton Town Councilors

do not hold meetings before town council meetings at which public /

non-town councilors are present.

"In the interest of transparency we meet officially before the start of

each term in May to discuss who is interested in joining which

committees. We do not have any official meetings monthly but we will ask

colleagues for information discussed at any public meetings, which

others had not attended in order to have further information on topics

within the agenda.

"No agreements are made during these discussions as to how individuals

would vote on agenda items. Our councillors always go into formal

council meetings and listen to the debate, reports etc. and take the

appropriate decision/position.

They urged any meetings councillors hold should be following the rules and have only councillors present when discussing council matters. They go on to add:

"We would never discuss confidential matters at public meetings, the

only staffing information we ever receive comes officially from the

council; we would not support any meetings apart from official council

ones discussing staffing issues."

Last week it emerged that two South Glos Labour councillors Adam Monk and Ian Scott, were ousted from the role of chair and vice chair of the Filton Labour branch and at the same meeting, members agreed to discuss Filton Town council matters prior to official meetings.

On confidential elements being discussed at unofficial meetings, the Conservative councillors said:

"We would like to add that any group meetings that may take place are

useful, information sharing exercises aimed at helping group members in

their elected roles. Only appropriate issues would be discussed amongst

Conservative Filton Town Councilors only. There would be NO sharing of

confidential matters with people who are not elected members/council

officers."

Labour councillors have yet to comment on their meeting decision or the Conservative statement.