CONSERVATIVE councillors are to summon MP Mark Harper to a vital meeting on the Public Bodies Bill.

Mr Harper has said he will hold a public meeting to explain a White Paper, which is due to be published by the Government imminently.

But Forest Tories say he must talk to them and his other constituents about the Bill currently going through Parliament, which if passed as law would enable the sale of any or all of England's public forestry estate, including the Forest of Dean.

Coun Terry Hale (Con, Newland & St Briavels), criticised the MP for not engaging with his people: "I'm not against Mark but I'm against the sell-off. He's kept the cards close to his chest and hasn't even talked to his Party – he hasn't had a meeting with us. He's let me down."

At council meetings today and on Tuesday chairmen of corporate and community scrutiny committees, Coun Len Lawton (Con, Newent Central) and Coun Hale will recommend Mr Harper be invited to a joint scrutiny meeting, which will be open to the public.

Coun Lawton said: "I'm taking the implied threats very seriously and feel that we must be seen as part of the consultation on this. We've received many emails on this issue from local people and believe this meeting with Mark is extremely important."

Coun Hale, the only Tory councillor to agree to put pressure on Lords to seek an exemption for the Forest of Dean in the Bill, has confirmed he is firmly against any sell-off: "There's no way I would let that happen, and that's why I voted the way I did," he said.

"That's why I'm going on the deputation to the House of Lords on Monday – because I was the only one in the Conservative group to stick my neck out by voting for the motion. I know other Conservatives feel the same way as me, and everyone on the council should have voted for the motion."

He spoke out after council leader Coun Peter Amos (Con, Awre) and chairman Coun Marrilyn Smart (Con, Christchurch & English Bicknor) confirmed they would be joining the deputation, due to meet Lords at noon on Monday.

The Viscount Bledisloe, Rupert Bathurst, will also be part of the lobby "to speak out against an alarming blanket power likely to threaten the Forest in perpetuity", he wrote.

Independent counc-Andrew Gardiner (Lydbrook & Ruard-), who introduced the council motion and is organising the Westminster lobby, said the Forest of Dean District Council leader and chairman will be joining the delegation as observers.

After he has made introductions, Coun Gardiner said legal expert Alan Robertson will present the Forest's case, and then Lords will be invited to ask anyone in the party questions, including councillors from each political group, as well as representatives of anglers, freeminers, commoners and pressure group Dean Forest Voice.