Secretive City Council Consultation Cock-Up!

By Alex Perkins, Canterbury Liberal Democrat Leader

 

- CCC budget figures witheld from Opposition councillors, given to public first

- Grants To Local Voluntary Organisations and Sports Trust Slashed

- Rural skateboard funding wiped out

- Housing needs funding withdrawn

Local Lib Dem Council Group Leader Cllr Alex Perkins is calling for an enquiry into why the new Conservative administration at CCC are keeping opposition members in the dark over the budget.

In previous years all parties on the council were given access to the budget figures months in advance and could keep track of the process through an all-party ‘star chamber’ exercise. This year we were not only kept in the dark but the Tory administration thumbed their noses at the opposition and back-bench members, by putting the budget on their website without even letting other councillors know.

“Everything has been kept from us by the Tories this year” said Alex. “Then I was phoned by a member of the public who had read the budget on the city council website over the weekend. I had to phone the city Chief Executive on Monday and ask that I and the other councillors be given a copy!”

“This is an absolute disgrace. Members of the public knew before most councillors that the Tories are cutting grants to local voluntary organizations and slashing spending on Active Life who run our local swimming pools and sports centres. The Tories have shown complete contempt for the democratic process. In just six months of Tory control a veil of secrecy has descended over the city council. I urge everyone to scrutinize the budget and see which other vital services they are cutting. Now that Opposition and backbench members have finally received copies we will be spending the next few days examining it in detail and will make a full budget response shortly.”

Canterbury City Council Budget 2006-2007 (City Council website).