Lib Dems demand transparency at Barnet Council

8.27.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 17th May 2009

Cllr Jack Cohen describes Tory proposals as an attack on the democratic process

Barnet Tories are behaving like the Labour Government's Political Lap Dogs. The Conservative Administration is proposing to restrict scrutiny of its decisions. Under plans to be voted upon at the Council's Annual meeting this Tuesday, the Conservative Administration intends to force through far reaching changes to the scrutiny procedure.

Under the existing system back bench Councillors have the power to demand that all decisions taken by the Cabinet and its Committees and individual Cabinet Members can be called in for challenge and scrutiny. All this will change if the proposed rule change is voted through. Instead Councillors will only be able to "call in" a very limited range of decisions.

Cllr Jack Cohen leader of Barnet Liberal Democrats describes this as "a blow to the democratic process". Councillor Cohen says that the Council is arguing that the current system does not comply with Government guidelines. Cllr Cohen retorts "so what? We all know how dictatorial this Labour Government is. Look at the mess the House of Commons is in at the moment because policies are not properly scrutinised. I am amazed that this Conservative Council is so keen to bow down to the Labour Government or could it be a convenient way of avoiding the kind of scrutiny which over the past year has embarrassed the Administration, exposed waste and shown up their shortcomings". Cllr Cohen also suspects that this "is an expedient way to further gag Opposition Councillors"

The Liberal Democrats will be challenging the Tories to think again. Councillor Cohen points out "In the light of what's going on at Westminster we need more transparency in Politics not less."