LEA officers should face disciplinary action if they acted ahead of elected members to push the schools closure programme through, says Herefordshire Council opposition leader Terry James.
Councillor James said the suspension of the programme - in the face of overwhelming protest against 37 schools either shutting or merging - was "more wear down than climbdown".
"What they will now do is come forward with a revised plan closing some of the schools and then proceed to pick the rest off one by one," said Coun James.
He also attacked the council's cabinet for its "pretence" of surprise at the scale of the plan.
"No senior officer of any council would place such massive proposals in the public arena without the knowledge, support and authorisation of the political leadership.
"It is the cabinet who are responsible for and make the decisions on the council, not the officers - if they have done they should be subject to disciplinary action," said Coun James
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