CRIES of "shame" echoed round Canterbury's Guildhall on Wednesday after the mayor-making ceremony as the Tories axed the practice of sharing two chairmen on the planning committee.

For the past year Conservative Ian Thomas (Chestfield and Swalecliffe) had shared the chairmanship of the development control committee with Liberal Democrat Nick Eden-Green.

But when it came to re-elect the two co-chairmen the Tories switched the wording to chairman at the last minute.

The Lib Dems' Ida Linfield from Boughton complained: "This is a disgrace. Development control should not be political."

But the Lib Dems were out-voted 9-7 and the Conservatives installed Chestfield and Swalecliffe Cllr Jenny Samper as new planning boss.

When Cllr Samper insisted it would remain a non-political committee she was greeted with laughs and shuts of "shame" from the Lib Dems.

Cllr Harry Cragg, in his new role as Lord Mayor and chairman of the council, looked down at his agenda and commented: "I am just carrying out the business of the council."

Afterwards Cllr Peter Lee (Herne Bay) said: "We felt having two chairmen was leading to inconsistent decisions."