The decision to create another senior post within Richmond Council has been defended by the borough chief - who said it was designed to improve services for residents.

At Richmond Council's annual meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Jane Dodds took up the new position as cabinet member for performance, becoming the ninth member of the borough's executive.

Councillor Serge Lourie, leader of Richmond Council, said the appointment was following the advice of the Audit Commission - the independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively- which recommended a position in a comprehensive performance assessment late last year.

Coun Dodds will be responsible for the performance of the authority and for ensuring that residents get value for money, but opposition members have labelled her appointment as a fantastic, bureaucratic chase-my-tail.

Councillor Nick True, leader of Richmond Conservatives, said it was an admission that the council was not performing and said current underperforming members of the executive should be sacked.

"Costs are rising, council tax is rising, yet basic council services are not working as they should," he said. "Instead of appointing another LibDem member for performance, Coun Lourie and his discredited team should step up their own performance - or step aside."

Coun Lourie said: "Our objective is to provide first class services. We think we have done very well but we think we can improve.

"The comprehensive performance assessment confirmed our view and suggested we should take more interest in performance.

"We are adding a new cabinet member, responsible for performance primarily."

Coun Lourie defended the creation of an extra position, pointing out the Liberal Democrat administration had reduced the cabinet from nine to eight members when it took over in May 2006. One further change to the executive saw Councillor John Coombs replaced by Councillor Liz Jaeger as cabinet member for youth, culture and leisure.