LEADING county councillors have been advised by their deputy leader to make themselves more interesting, more easy to understand and more high profile.

Bill Chapple has told the eight-person cabinet, which is the council's powerhouse, they should not stay stuck at County Hall in Aylesbury, but get out into the rest of the county for meetings, especially when there is a local hot topic to discuss.

Cllr Chapple, speaking at a meeting on Monday (held in Aylesbury) said that while people want their services delivered, public interest in Cabinet itself had to be encouraged.

He said the council has to get the message out that it is a community leader of real benefit.

He and a small group of advisers agreed that after nine months of cabinet government the main thing that came across was that meetings should be more lively.

They usually last two hours on a Monday morning. No one ever argues about anything, while the reports are generally heavy going. If they are too long they will be sent back to be rewritten.

Cllr Chapple said officers should steer clear of cabinet meetings, because having so many of them around intimidates and confuses people.

Cabinet members are also advised that when they issue a piece of paper telling people that a decision has been taken, it should explain what has been done and why.

The county council exchanged its old-style panels, sub committees and committees, for cabinet government nine months ago.

The change, as a result of the modernisation demanded by the government, is estimated to be costing an extra £850,000 a year, mainly because of extra staff costs.

Backbenchers are now paid £8,000 a year each, while the leader gets £40,000, the deputy £28,500 and the rest of the cabinet £16,000 apiece.

Backbenchers can be members of scrutiny committees, policy advisory groups and many other groups and panels that still exist. In fact there are still as many meetings as there ever were.