A MOVE to scrap Worcestershire County Council's cabinet and replace it with a committee system has been rejected, despite some politicians claiming they feel "sidelined".

Councillors voted 28-23 against an historic shake-up of the governance system after Green Councillor Matt Jenkins has called for the move, saying it will allow the different parties to have a greater say.

Despite backing by the Labour group it was rejected by the Conservatives, which said just three top-tier authorities in the entire country have made the change.

Lib Dem Councillor Fran Oborski, speaking during the debate, said: "Increasing numbers of councils at all levels are reverting to the committee system, not because they know political power regularly changes hands but because they know the current system sidelines and disenfranchises councillors."

But Tory cabinet member Councillor Anthony Blagg, the deputy leader, said: "There are only three county councils in the country at the moment that have committee systems - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Nottinghamshire, none of them had one party in overall control, so it would be wrong to say this is wildly popular."

He told the chamber the Conservatives, which currently control 31 of the 57 seats at County Hall, have "a clear mandate" from the voting public.

During a long debate the Labour group argued that the matter needed to be investigated via the in-house scrutiny process, and amended the motion.

But Councillor Nathan Desmond, a Tory, said: "There is no ideal system but I believe a cabinet is the strongest, clearest way to have decision-making - if we make this change it would result in inertia and confusion."

The Greens pointed to Worcester City Council agreeing to adopt a committee model in May, but the Conservatives pointed to that authority being in no overall control in four of the last five years.

Labour Councillor Graham Vickery said the meetings are "a waste of time" under a cabinet model, but Tory Councillor Ken Pollock replied by saying: "On that basis you could scrap the House of Commons".

Despite Labour getting support from the smaller parties and the independents, the motion failed.