A member of the board responsible for scrutinising Hertfordshire’s police and crime commissioner David Lloyd’s decisions has quit, branding it "a waste of time, money and space".

Councillor Roger Seabourne has been on the Police and Crime Panel (PCP) since its creation shortly after Mr Lloyd’s election in November 2012.

Councillor Seabourne, who also sits on Three Rivers District Council, stepped down from the PCP in June claiming legislation brought in before the PCC election was rushed and prevents the panel from properly scrutinising the commissioner.

He said: "It’s a waste of time, money and space.

"My criticism is of the legislation and not of David himself. The panel is ineffective and the legislation is written to make it ineffective.

"They need to throw the legislation out and start again.

"I don’t have any problem with David; he has been elected, he has three years to go then the public can reassess him on how he has done.

"But he has got a bunch of cronies around him and he does what he wants because he can.

"We have got an elected person with no opposition to call them to account.

"There are people willing to do the job of an opposition but we have got to give them the tools to do it. It’s not helping David to carry on like this."

He said this was evidenced by the fact members of the public who asked questions were often given unsatisfactory answers or were ignored.

Councillor Seabourne and Watford’s elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill both stepped down from the PCP but will continue to be involved with the community safety board that meets once a month with Mr Lloyd.

Unlike the PCP the community safety board has executive decision making powers.

Councillor Seabourne was critical of panel members who chose to continue while also serving on the community safety board.

He said: "If you are going to make a decision it has to be scrutinised, I was very surprised that a few panel members felt in some way it was not a conflict of interest. None of us should be on both panels.

"It is very sad when you look at the constabulary, which is one of the best in the country but this needs to be sorted out because it reflects badly.

"All this bad publicity around the term police is not helping them and my fear is that poor performance of the panel can damage the reputation of the PCC and the police."

Mr Lloyd said he did not see a conflict of interest but accepted that some may.

He said: "The Police and Crime Panel is set up in law to scrutinise me but that is only a small part of what there is to scrutinise me.

"I am not in charge of the panel and I wouldn’t want to be.

"Some people are concerned they cannot be involved [in the community safety board] and still scrutinise me.

"I see no conflict of interest but I think that is for every individual to decide.

"Those people that are involved are better informed and can ask me the really pertinent questions."