Every Independent, Labour and Conservative councillor has this week signed a letter to social work chiefs seeking answers to a series of questions relating to the charging system.

The move comes after the Campaign Against Charges group chained themselves to the Council chambers, forcing a full-Council meeting to be abandoned, and only weeks before an official report is due out on the home care charges.

Councillor Bryan Poole made the approach to opposition councillors. He said: "At the same time as I was getting phone calls about home care services I was also being stopped in the street and being asked about the controversy around the new charging policy.

"Following the protest at the last full meeting of Fife Council it is clear that there have been difficulties around information flow and communications.

"I felt there was a need to try and get a clear and accurate picture of where this service is at both an individual ward level, so I could respond to local enquiries, and Fife wide in order that all councillors can help contribute towards finding a solution."

The letter, addressed to director of social work Stephen Moore, includes questions over additional income for Fife Council and delivery of services.

However, the move has been met with suspicion by Council leader Peter Grant.

He said: "It has been known for a long time that the social work and health committee would get an update report on home care charges at their meeting on September 9.

"Barely two weeks before this report is due to be published we suddenly get a group of councillors asking for all this detailed information. I have to ask myself whether the timing of the request is entirely coincidental.

"Given that the combined opposition groups have chosen to issue a joint statement on the disruption at the last council meeting I am now inviting them to say publicly whether they condone the actions of a handful of people in seeking to disrupt the democratic processes we were all elected to carry out."

Social work chief Stephen Moore said all information requests would be responded to in the normal time frame.

He added: "To be absolutely clear about the charging policy, any revenue generated will be reinvested into front-line services for those people who require it the most. No one will be asked to pay if they cannot afford to."