Revelations about how council bosses do not have all the land needed for work at Heartsease roundabout have sparked calls for a u-turn over a controversial move to hold road scheme meetings in secret.
But bullish leaders at Norfolk County Council have refused a rethink, saying making the discussions private will improve decision-making.
A political row broke out last month over the decision to disband a committee of councillors which met publicly to discuss road projects funded through £32m of government Transforming Cities cash.
Instead, Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure - with whom road schemes decisions ultimately rest - decided to create a 'steering group', which will discuss matters behind closed doors.
But it recently emerged the £4.4m revamp of Heartsease roundabout - one of the schemes - was going ahead before County Hall had secured land needed for all its elements. Critics have said the scheme has become a "fiasco".
And that prompted calls for Mr Plant to row back on his decision to discuss road schemes behind closed doors.
Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, said: "You recently decided to scrap the Transport for Norwich advisory committee, turning it into little more than a meaningless talking shop.
"This is an affront to local democracy as well as being utterly disrespectful to council colleagues on other neighbouring authorities.
"With ongoing public concern about the changes now taking place at the Heartsease roundabout, will the chair now concede that this is absolutely the wrong time to take matters behind closed doors?"
But Mr Plant stood by his decision, which he said was triggered by Labour councillors walking out of a previous meeting of the committee - where the Heartsease roundabout was due to be discussed.
He said: "The previous iteration of this body was dysfunctional, being made inquorate by members refusing to take part and depriving the cabinet member of advice to assist his timely decision-making.
"The new steering group reflects the well-functioning arrangements of Great Yarmouth
and King’s Lynn, which have operated successfully for many years."
Labour councillors walked out of the meeting in protest that the committee had been set up to be chaired by Lana Hempsall, Mr Plant's deputy, rather than Mr Plant himself.
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