A council is set to introduce fresh measures to give the public more sway over its decision making policies.

Maldon District Council currently bans public speaking at Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings – a group of councillors who take chief decision-makers to task.

Previously, it was thought scrutiny meetings lacked a “business transacting nature”, so were not in the public’s interest.

However, officers revealed revised plans to recommended an overhaul of the rules ahead of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday December 2.

They have decided there is sufficient interest for the public to speak - particularly in police matters.

The group also acts as the Crime and Disorder Committee, which recently grilled police bosses in a series of meetings.

While members hit out over high burglary rates, poor solve rates and the proposed closure of Southminster and South Woodham Ferrers police stations, the public were gagged.

If the proposals go ahead, the public will be granted two minutes to raise concerns at both meetings.

Speaking before the meeting, Overview and Scrutiny Committee member and Maldon mayor, Mark Heard, said: “I have always stood by the public being allowed to have their say.

“It is the very reason I became a councillor and I will defend it to the last.

“There has to be a process for members of the public to address the council for any areas of concern.”