The Labour-run Merton Council has sidestepped opposition demand to respond to Tweeters at a heated meeting where the Conservatives tried to get the ruling party to engage with people more on the social networking site.

Conservative councillors tried to get the Labour council to engage with residents on Twitter in a motion put to them in a message short enough to tweet in 134 characters.

But a Labour amendment, described by leader of the Merton Conservatives Oonagh Moulton as "negating the whole spirit of the motion that is before us now", was passed by 34 votes to 24, with one not voting.

The original motion, which was called "gimmicky" by council leader Stephen Alambritis, read: "Merton Council must listen to residents more and resolves to engage with their concerns through Twitter to achieve this. #MertonListen".

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Conservative Councillor Hamish Badenoch, who drafted it, argued  it was an opportunity for the council to engage with residents in a transparent and instant way.

Speaking last night, he said: "Councillor Alambritis has dismissed this motion as a gimmick. Coming from one of the great political showmen of London, I take that as a compliment.

"This motion is not just about Twitter, it’s about the kind of council we want to be for residents.

"If you want a council that listens rather than tells, that engages rather than dictates, that innovates rather than ossifies, then you should support this motion."

He added: "Treating resident's concerns as a gimmick is shameful."

Some residents had tweeted in favour of council responding on social media. 

The passed Labour amendment insists the council will use "better ways" than Twitter to speak with residents.

It begins: "Merton Council listens to residents and resolves to engage with their concerns in better ways than just Twitter. #Mertonlistens."

Labour Councillor Judy Saunders insisted the council offers a number of effective ways for residents to contact them, including by email, phone and the ‘Love Clean Streets’ app, rather than through Twitter.

She said: "I do not believe it to be an efficient means with which to run the council. "We need to have dedicated officers in each department to respond to each enquiry, and I doubt that the group opposite would support spending money on more bureaucracy."

Councillor Martin Whelton tweeted during the meeting to point out that Coun Badenoch was not actually a user of Twitter personally.

Coun Badenoch, who manages the Merton Conservative's Twitter account, described Coun Whelton’s tweet as "particularly silly".

He added: "The point is that Merton Council has a responsibility to engage and listen to residents and it chooses not to use Twitter as one of many tools for that engagement."

Labour Councillor Tobin Byers, who also admitted to not having a Twitter account, described it as "remarkable" that the Conservative group had drafted a motion "solely on the basis of its brevity".

He said: "I was actually hoping their speeches would run to 140 characters too, though sadly they weren't able to be kept so brief.

"While Twitter may be appropriate in some circumstances, it is certainly not appropriate in all circumstances.

"There are far better tools in which the council has invested significant money for reporting issues and dealing with enquiries."

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