Green Party councillors have been accused of not taking their roles seriously after only half of them turned up to a key meeting.
Their opponents claim the low turnout highlights a long record of poor attendance by the party at Norwich City Council.
In the past 12 months, Greens account for 64pc of the absences recorded at full council meetings, compared to 32pc for Labour, the other major party at the authority.
The recent low turnout led to angry clashes in the council chamber, with senior Labour councillors describing their opponents' attendance record as "embarrassing".
But the Greens claimed their members had legitimate reasons for missing the meeting and criticised the way it was run.
ABSENT COUNCILLORS
In the past 12 months, Green councillors were absent from full council meetings 36 times, compared to 18 Labour absences.
Councillors who have left the authority during that period have not been included in this figure.
The matter came to a head at this week's extraordinary meeting to agree the authority's position on local government changes.
Norwich City Council has supported plans to create three unitary councils, which gained cross-party support, rather than one single authority, or splitting the county into two.
Seven Green councillors gave apologies for their absence, and a further member was not present out of the 16-strong group.
All 19 Labour members were present, as were the three Liberal Democrats and single independent.
At the meeting, Greens criticised the uncertainty over holding council elections this year, after they were delayed in 2025, warning it would be an affront to democracy if they were delayed again.
But a debate on the chance of them being postponed for another year was shut down by Labour councillors, who warned the discussion was veering off topic.
Gary Champion, a Green councillor, criticised this decision and said sarcastically: "Thank you for the democracy and the discussion, it was enlivening."
In response, Carli Harper, Labour cabinet member for major projects, said: "Maybe you should get your people to turn up then."
Following the meeting, she added: "Of course, some councillors will have had genuine reasons.
"But the Greens are trying to position themselves as the next administration in waiting. When just eight people turn up out of 16, it is embarrassing."
Ms Harper believes some Greens are "not taking their councillor role seriously", with Labour recently claiming four councillors with the lowest attendance record are Greens.
But Lucy Galvin, interim leader of the Greens, believes the criticism is unfair and that absences are often "beyond the control" of councillors.
She said: "Life being what it is, councillors of all parties are sometimes absent from individual meetings through factors beyond their control, such as illness, family matters or accidents.
"Council meetings are important, and it’s vital to make sure that members get any support they need to attend, including efficient, adequate notice and information in advance.”
Mr Champion also played down the importance of the meeting, calling it a "rubber-stamping exercise" as the support of a three-council system had already been widely agreed.
MEETING MISTEP?
Mr Champion was also frustrated with how the meeting was managed, after the discussion on the potential election delay was ended abruptly.
Labour councillors called for the discussion to end and for a vote agreeing to support urging the government to choose three unitary councils for Norfolk to be conducted.
Mr Champion believes a separate vote should have been held to agree to ending the discussion, rather than the mayor making a unilateral decision.
The council's constitution appears to support this, stating that a motion for ending a debate should be put to a vote.
He said: "I do not think it was malicious, but I do think it was incompetence. It would be a poor show if elections are delayed."
Cabinet members will discuss whether or not to delay elections at a meeting next week, which could prove hugely contentious.
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