A senior Birmingham Labour councillor has resigned as committee chairman over increasingly remote leadership and lack of democracy, it is claimed.
Coun Barry Bowles was the straight-talking chairman of the Hall Green District, a cabinet role responsible for a range of local services in the Hall Green, Sparkbrook, Moseley and Kings Heath and Springfield areas.
He announced his resignation in an email to colleagues.
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Coun Bowles told the Post he would not make any public statement until he had talked to fellow councillors about the situation.
But he is angry that selected contents of the email were leaked within an hour of it being sent.
The Post understands the Labour councillor resigned from the £10,574-a-year role in frustration at the direction of the city council as it grapples with brutal cuts and
Labour group sources have highlighted his frustration that council leader Sir Albert Bore and his close cabinet colleagues are increasingly remote from backbenchers.
For example, only taking an implementation plan for the Kerslake Improvement Board to the Labour Group after it has been formally approved by the cabinet.
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Earlier this month, senior members of the Governance Scrutiny committee councillors Carl Rice and Mike Leddy also criticised Sir Albert for failing to consult with the wider council membership over the response to Kerslake.
Sir Albert has dismissed the criticism, claiming Kerslake's recommendations are primarily a matter for the chief executive rather than politicians.
Coun Bowles is also thought to be among the councillors who believe some elements of the Kerslake review needed to be challenged.
The idea that council activity now needs to be signed off by unelected Government appointed commissioners, rather than elected councillors, is seen by some as an affront to local democracy.
There is also criticism that district committees, including Hall Green, are being sidelined, asked to take responsibility for cuts to local services, such as libraries, while an increasing number of decisions are now being taken at the main city council.