A PLAN to hold public meetings four times a year to help foster "transparency and openness" will be discussed by members of Keighley Town Council this evening.

The local authority already arranges an annual town meeting, but its members will tonight be asked to organise dates and times for three additional public meetings during the 2015/16 civic year.

An explanatory note in the agenda for this evening's town council meeting explains: "The purpose of the meetings is to allow the public and elected members to speak candidly outside of the current confines of council protocols.

"The intention is to foster a sense of transparency and openness amongst members of the public. The meetings will have some form of structure with an agenda, but any debate will remain fluid according to the topics raised."

Keighley parishioners campaign group, Cavetown Council, has previously complained about what it sees as a lack of transparency in the town council.

Responding to the latest proposal, Cavetown member and Ingrow resident, Elizabeth Mitchell, said: "I am pleased to see the public meetings being recommended.

"I hope the proposal will be accepted, but I am a little concerned at the reference to there being an agenda.

"I would have preferred the meetings to be open to spontaneity, where members of the public can raise concerns or praise the council or even, dare I say, make suggestions on how the £750,000 precept could be best spent because it’s not being spent very wisely at the moment."

Mrs Mitchell added: "Members of the public should be free to speak to the full council, without interference from any political group.

"The recent suggestion from Cllr Barry Thorne that a small section of the public should meet with only himself and some members of the Labour group within council, I find abhorrent, divisive and against the council’s own standing orders.

"I would encourage everyone to attend the public meetings. This is their opportunity to have their say and perhaps make a difference."

As previously reported in the Keighley News, Cllr Thorne, leader of the town council's Labour group, said he had offered to meet with Cavetown Council to discuss its concerns.

However, he said his offer had been rebuffed by the group.

Responding to Mrs Mitchell's latest comments, Cllr Thorne said: "Myself and other members of the group I represent are willing, in all good faith, to meet with anyone. If they don't want to meet us then so be it.

"To say what I suggested is against standing orders is a complete and utter load of rubbish."