Lib Dem leader gagged by Council (Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats)

Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats <info@barnetlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem leader gagged by Council

January 27, 2009 8:43 PM

Councillor Jack Cohen was prevented from scrutinising wasteful Council spending

Councillor Jack Cohen, Leader of Barnet Liberal Democrats has reacted angrily to be being "gagged" at last night's Cabinet Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Cohen was asking questions to the Leader of the Council about the way the Council is spending Taxpayers money. He was seeking more information about payments of Honorarium to Council Staff.

According to Council papers over half million pounds had been paid to staff by way of "Honoraria"

Council legal officers, supported by the Tory Committee Chair, ruled that Councillor Cohen could not question the Leader of the Council about this. Councillor Cohen says "I was astonished at this decision. What are they trying to hide? This is tax payer's money we are talking about. Why are staff being paid extra amounts, probably non taxable. Is it deserved? I am sure there are a few cases where payment of honoraria is appropriate, but we looking at over two hundred staff being paid in this way. It is a bad day for democracy when elected Councillors are stopped from asking questions, who is running this Council?"

Cllr Cohen is also hitting out at Conservative members of the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee. Last night not one of the five Tory members uttered a word. Councillor Cohen wonders if they are being gagged. "Last night we were scrutinising some pretty important issue, much of it to do with the way the Council spends it money, yet the, Tories never said a word. Why do they bother to turn up"