SANDWELL councillors voted overwhelmingly to axe park and street wardens despite a 4,000 strong petition being handed in to full council and protestors picketing the meeting.

There were recriminations at full Sandwell Council at Oldbury Council House on Tuesday night as Independent Socialist Langley councillor Mick Davies challenged the decision on legal grounds.

Cllr Davies questioned the legality of the decision to restructure the warden service, which aims to save over £500,000, as the council constitution states decisions which save £250,000 can not be delegated.

And Cllr Davies believes this legal point could open the door to sacked workers taking legal action against the council.

When questioned the chief executive Jan Britton and his legal team struggled to give an answer.

Cllr Davies said: “The meeting was a shambles.

“I asked the council’s legal officer for clarification as to whether the decision taken by the cabinet member on December 9 was or wasn’t a ‘key decision’ within the terms of Article 13 of the council’s constitution.

“After some deliberation the chief executive said that they couldn’t give me a definitive answer at that moment.”

He said:”I said that this was a fundamental issue because depending on the answer the council could leave themselves open to actions in employment tribunals, I also mentioned that I found it concerning that given there were there senior officers who are paid to give this very sort of advice that an answer couldn’t be given.”

Cllr Davies added: “The behaviour of many of the members of Labour Group including sadly cabinet members was both boorish and puerile, the Mayor had no control over the meeting despite asking on a number of occasions for order.

“Why the Labour Group with 60 members has to resort to such childish activities shows a certain disrespect for democracy within the council chamber.

“I’m all for healthy debate but yaa boo politics and number of fatuous points of order shouldn’t really be the norm and sadly in Sandwell it is but I think that this is as much to do with the paucity of opposition.”

The Labour group, which has an overwhelming majority, voted to back the sacking of half the street and park wardens with several councillors and cabinet members speaking about the need to cut costs due to budget constraints.

Councillor Derek Rowley said: "This was not a 'key decision' as the amount saved to the council by the decision I took on December 9 was £184,000.

"The larger figure referred to at full council was a potential total level of estimated savings across the council and its wider partners."