Former Gloucester City Council leader Paul James says he used to enjoy the verbal question sessions which have recently been banned.
The city council voted last week to restrict the way members of the public and councillors can question civic leaders.
Until November 18, council meetings included sessions where the public and councillors could quiz cabinet members in person about issues affecting the city.
But Conservative Party councillors voted to change the system and now the questions must be submitted in writing days before the meeting takes place.
During the debate, Liberal Democrat group leader Jeremy Hilton (Kingsholm and Wotton), who wanted to keep the previous system, said former leader Paul James enjoyed answering questions from opposition members.
He said he didn’t know why the current cabinet members were “so damn scared” of being quizzed by him.
“What you are proposing is that when we put in a written question you want the officers to deal with your homework. You want them to write all the answers,” he said.
Mr James, a former Conservative councillor, responded on Twitter saying: “It’s not often I get a compliment from [Jeremy Hilton] so I’ll take this one!
“I make no comment on the proposed changes but he’s right that I used to enjoy answering questions in the chamber. It certainly kept me on my toes!”
Council leader Richard Cook (Con, Kingsway) defended the proposals during the debate and said there was no fear in cabinet about answering verbal questions.
He said he hated being called undemocratic and the changes would bring the council in line with other local authorities.
Cllr Cook said it was really odd to have both verbal and written question sessions.
Liberal Democrat and Labour Pary councillors opposed the changes.
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter