A cross-party committee has proposed postponing the next stage of the city's key transport strategy consultation, a consultation that will ask for residents' views on the city's transport policy for the future.

The all-party Scrutiny Management Committee unanimously agreed that the next stage of the Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) consultation should both take into account the results of the current all-party Traffic Congestion Scrutiny Committee designed survey, as well as the need for a 20 year long-term strategy rather than it being for only 10 years.

But Lib Dem City Strategy boss Steve Galloway yesterday poured scorn on the proposal which was proposed by his fellow councillor Keith Orrell, arguing it will only delay consultation with the public.

Labour leader Coun. David Scott said the party was becoming increasingly divided, commenting:

"Coun. Galloway would try to paint a picture of opposition parties curtailing the democratic process when in fact it is he that is doing exactly that. His intransigence has prompted one of his fellow councillors to go against him and do the right thing, for the good of the city. I applaud Councillor Orrell on this occasion and those from all parties on the Scrutiny Management Committee who agreed that if you are going to consult in a meaningful way, you do it properly.

"Assurances have been made that the current Traffic Congestion consultation with residents would feed into the next stage of the LTP3 consultation. That makes perfect sense. It would be completely illogical to run the two simultaneously, and Coun. Galloway knows it.

"The reason he is taking umbrage at this is because he has been forced to change his decision, something he is loath to do. I'm also concerned about reported untruths that this was an opposition party decision. It was a cross-party decision that included his own Lib Dem colleagues and he should be clear with the public that he is in a minority on this issue, Executive Member or not".