THE Tory Leader of Wycombe District Council has strongly rebuffed suggestions from his Labour counterpart that his administration is 'rudderless'.

Labour's Cllr Victoria Groulef accused Cllr Alex Collingwood of showing a lack of leadership over a plan setting out Wycombe's economic future.

But Cllr Collingwood said the vision has been clearly set out and established.

It is the latest of a series of clashes between the party leaders since last May's elections.

The Labour group leader has written to Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles on the matter.

In her letter she quoted his message to councils in 2010 saying their business should be “out in the open” to “revolutionise local government” and enable residents “to hold politicians and public bodies to account over how their hard earned cash is being spent”.

Cllr Groulef said: “It’s outrageous the public cannot hold this local Tory council to account, nor see what its objectives are.

“The reason given is that Alex Collingwood’s new administration wanted to set its own objectives and priorities.

“This does not explain the delay in the review and the new administration excuse is pathetic - they are the same political party for goodness sake.”

“Cllr Collingwood is showing lack of strategic direction and leadership. This council has been rudderless for eight months and this is inexcusable”.

Cllr Collingwood said: "I have set a clear, strategic direction for the council to ensure the Wycombe district is economically strong and the place to live work and visit, including making strategic decisions on the stadium project, the tenant led transfer of homes and a new sports centre for 2015 and I robustly refute any suggestion to the contrary."

Cllr Collingwood said after his election three areas of work were identified as needing significant changes and improvements over the next four years.

“Our new corporate plan - which is our improvement plan towards our long term vision to ensure that the Wycombe district is economically strong and the place to live work and visit – sets out these priorities as people, place and pounds.”

Full council approved these in October when the information was made public in the authority's magazine.

WDC intends to publish the corporate plan this week, alongside last year’s annual report.

This and the annual report are not a legal requirement so there is some leeway on when to publish them, it added.