Opposition members staged the borough's first mass walkout at Tuesday's council meeting refusing to debate two big money issues as it came to a close.

Tory leader Councillor Nick True said: "We have been saying we need a separate meeting to discuss the capital budget and local plan for six months.

"These documents shape the character of the borough and we simply cannot have a democratic debate on two major issues in the time made available."

Leader of the council Serge Lourie said: "This walkout was bizarre and childish. We could have had a full debate on these important issues, instead the Conservatives simply walked out on the process."

The Lib Dems continued after the opposition had left, agreeing the capital budget, sending the local development framework out for public consultation and dis- cussing issues including the next moves on fighting post office closures in the borough.

Councillor Michael Wilson for Twickenham Riverside told the meeting: "The Government is pushing ahead with post office closures with such force this is just when we need cross-party support. Where are the Conservatives now?"

The Conservatives will not face disciplinary action and refute claims of contempt for the process.

Deputy Tory leader Geoffrey Samuel said: "Far from it. We have merely exercised our democratic rights. It is the Lib Dems who have acted improperly and all part of their unwillingness to listen."

At the same meeting, the administration announced a council tax rise of 3.57 per cent for 2008/2009. The opposition said this was not reflective of the situation in real monetary terms.