TORY councillors have blasted Labour for changing the rules of full meetings of Derbyshire County Council, which means questions must now be submitted in advance.
The new rules have been introduced to "get cabinet members off the hook" and to "avoid debate", claim Tories.
Labour took control of the council two weeks ago in a landslide election win that spelled the end of the Conservatives' four-year reign.
At the council's annual general meeting on Wednesday, Labour voted in favour of changing the rules of full council meetings.
Among the changes is all councillors will have to submit questions before the meeting, with the deadline set at noon the previous day.
Previously, councillors have not had to submit questions in advance. The changes sparked a ferocious attack from the Tory group leader, Councillor Andrew Lewer.
Mr Lewer said: "Imagine the reaction to this proposal in this room if it was put forward in 2009 (when the Tories took over the council). There would have been howls of protest that would have echoed down the chambers."
Other Tories had their say. Stuart Bradford said: "This is an attempt to get the cabinet members off the hook and to avoid a debate."
Simon Spencer asked: "Is this a step in the right direction for an open, transparent debate?
"We are being asked to put our questions in writing, which is very difficult considering we don't know what the leader is going to say."
Barry Lewis said: "What I think lies at the heart of this proposal is Councillor Western is worried about the competency of her own cabinet. They don't want to answer questions."
Labour leader Anne Western dismissed the claim and said: "The proposed model has been tried and tested in other councils. We enjoy council meetings and look forward to debate."
Mrs Western hit out at the Tories' own record of engaging with debate, arguing it was their "failure" to engage with the public that saw them lose control of the council.
A report on the changes said: "The procedure will assist communications between cabinet and the council and enable more considered responses to be provided by cabinet members."
The proposal was voted through despite opposition from the Conservatives.