Richmond Council will consult every resident on their priorities for the future - despite a new survey being criticised as too expensive and poorly thought out.

The authority’s cabinet last night approved an all-encompassing house-to-house survey as part of a comprehensive consultation shake-up.

The new Conservative administration promised to conduct an “all in one” consultation if they won power.

The scheme, which will see 100,000 surveys sent out in October and November asking residents for views on priorities for their areas, was approved despite criticisms from the Liberal Democrats.

The opposition also called for a plan to scrap area consultation meetings (ACMs) - described as being of benefit to only a few residents - to be halted but that was also approved.

Councillor David Williams, deputy leader of Richmond Liberal Democrats, said his party was broadly in support of the idea but it was far too expensive.

The cabinet agreed up to £95,000 in funding for the consultation, with £35,000 of that being spent on publicity before it starts, although Coun Williams said the final figure may be £175,000.

He added: “In our view this should be something done by political parties.

“This is ridiculously expensive at a time of severe financial constraint.

“It’s very vague what happens after the consultation.

“ACMs started when I was leader of the council [in 1984] and sometimes they have had a very significant use.

“You will need local meetings of some sort and these will be something like ACMs.”

Councillor Gareth Robert, who represents Hampton on Richmond Council, said the all in one was an “ill conceived idea dreamt up in opposition without input from officers”.

He said the idea of the was laudable but the methodology was laughable and urged the authority to take advice from market research professionals before going ahead with a scheme where £40,000 was spent to send out consultations with an expected response rate of 5 to 10 per cent.

Councillor Nick True, leader of Richmond Council, said the consultation of every resident remained a “significant aim” of the administration.

Councillor Tony Arbour, cabinet member for performance, added: “We are inviting views, we are not compelling people to respond - I hope this will have the support of the Liberal Democrats.”

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, Richmond Council deputy leader, said ACMs had always been a farce that were only of benefit to half a dozen residents.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, cabinet member for community development, added: “This is something that has never been done before, it is a way of finding out what our residents really want, not us telling them.”