Great Yarmouth's UKIP party is putting forward plans to change the borough council's decision making system to one they claim will be more democratic.

The group is proposing a motion to do away with the authority's current cabinet and introduce a committee system, which they say will give all councillors a chance to vote.

But UKIP's move has been criticised by opposition parties after the Conservatives slammed it as a 'piece of shallow posturing' and Labour described it as 'premature'.

Kay Grey, leader of Great Yarmouth UKIP, said the cabinet system left all the decision making in the hands of six councillors, but a committee structure would allow all members the chance to vote 'on everything'.

She added: 'It's a much more democratic process to decide issues for the wellbeing of the whole borough. The system we have got at the moment concentrates too much of the power in too few hands.'

The motion was part of UKIP's local manifesto, Mrs Grey said, and thought the move would be welcomed by residents particularly as the council faces some tough decisions in the future to slash its budget.

'When you look to the future with the transformation programme all party leaders have said we have got to work together. How can we work together when it's still down to six people?' she added.

'With a committee system everybody will get a chance to say 'this is what I think'.'

Norfolk County Council moved from a cabinet to a committee system in April after members voted 41 to 34 to overhaul their decision making. Members from all parties now sit on a number of committees including children's service, environment, development and transport and communities.

UKIP will put forward its motion at next week's full council meeting but news of the proposition has sparked angry criticism from the Conservatives.

Graham Plant, Tory group leader, hit out at UKIP's 'tokenistic politics' and said work was already well under way, via the authority's scrutiny panel, to look at the possibility of bringing in a committee system.

He said: 'Changing how a council works is a complex business, we owe it to council tax payers to ensure we have an effective, affordable system. I am disappointed some councillors are seeking to bypass the scrutiny process.

'This motion brings nothing new to the table, it is just a piece of shallow posturing designed to undermine the democratic process, which the conservatives have already initiated through the scrutiny panel.'

Trevor Wainwright, Labour leader of the council, echoed Mr Plant's comments and said it was a decision that needed to take much into account, including cost implications.

'They're entitled to put the motion forward but in my opinion it's premature,' he added.

Do you think a committee system would be more democratic than a cabinet system? Email lucy.clapham@archant.co.uk.