MALMESBURY Town Council has pledged to make its decision-making and workings more open and transparent to the public.

Recent controversies including the council's decision to reduce the hours of the Citizens' Advice Bureau and its handling of the Sunday market fiasco have raised questions about the council's conduct.

There were many unhappy faces at the council's meeting last week.

Disgruntled residents complained about the collapse of the renovation plans for the town hall, the amount of money the council spent on staff, and the failure to extend the Station Yard car park.

One of the council's problems is that it was returned without an election last May, and only 13 candidates came forward for the 16 available seats.

Three members were later co-opted onto the council.

One of these co-opted members, Judy Jones, is pressing for a policy of transparency and public accountability.

She said: "What I am suggesting is a review of the council; its roles and functions and operation and the way it is accountable to the public for its actions."

Coun Patrick Goldstone said it was not hard to understand the public's confusion.

He said: "The one thing you learn to live with as a councillor is a griping frustration.

"It is extremely difficult as a new councillor and that doesn't hold true just for the town but also district council."

The Mayor of Malmesbury Coun Charles Vernon said much of the problem of the council lies in how powerless it is.

Coun Ann Davis said: "The views of the town need to be taken into consideration.

"I am in support of the proposal, particularly finding out the views of the town people in a constructive way."

Another co-opted member of the council Glyn Davies said that on other councils where he had served he had not shared the frustration described by Coun Goldstone.

He said: "I was a councillor in a London borough and I did not feel the griping frustration then."

A public meeting will take place on Saturday at 10am at the town hall to decide how to move the policy forward.