Tory councillors in Croydon have broken precedent by forcing an extraordinary full council meeting to attack recent Town Hall decisions.

They are taking the radical step of using the terms of the Local Government Act 1972 to make opposing Labour members discuss matters such as Tramlink and the lap dancing furore in a specially convened meeting on Monday, September 7.

In retaliation, council leader Valerie Shawcross has hit back, dubbing the highly irregular meeting a "complete and utter waste of time and money."

"There has never been a meeting of this nature before.

"In the past there has been a consensus agreement for an extra meeting," she said. Deputy leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Andrew Pelling, told the Guardian: "We have called this meeting to call the council to account for blunders.

"There are real problems with the Tramlink that need sorting out. They have a problem on the bridge outside East Croydon.

"With 14 months to go before the system is running there have been no plans for connecting bus services," he said. The Tories also aim to raise complaints over the granting of the six-month licence for strippers at The Granaries, Surrey Street.

But Coun Shawcross disputed the need and point of the meeting.

She said: "Unfortunately they didn't request an extension at the council meeting on July 20. Their points over Tramlink are misinformed and out of date. There are already plans in discussion with London Transport.''

Speaking about the lap dancing she said: "Legally it is impossible for the full council to overturn the decision of the licensing sub-committee - they do not have the legal power to do so.

"This requisitioned meeting has been called on frivolous and ill informed grounds and is a waste of council time and money."

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