A ROW over gay adoptions has resurfaced in Bromley with furious Tories accusing the council of having a "hidden agenda" to place children with homosexual couples. Anger erupted following a decision to cut the number of councillors on the adoption panel. At the first meeting of the borough social services committee under Labour/Liberal Democrat control, it was agreed all but two councillors on the 10-man panel would stand down to be replaced by social workers and "independent" members.

The Tories are demanding information on children placed with lone parents or in "unnatural" groups be made public.

Conservative social services spokesman Councillor Malcolm Hyland said: "Essential safeguards are being removed and democratic accountability is drastically reduced for nothing other than ideological reasons."

Tory group leader Michael Tickner added: "There's a lot of new thinking about homosexual couples and single parents. This will increase the number of children placed in unnatural environments. It's all to do with manipulating the family and we don't think children should be experimented with.

"Adopted children would be best served by being placed in a home with a father and a mother figure. We believe in traditional family values."

But social services and housing director Clare Marchant said: "There will be no change in the adoption policy of the council. It always has been and will continue to be the policy of Bromley that everyone who applies to adopt a child is considered on their merits. The overriding factor is their ability to meet the needs of individual children."

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