Tory Leader Ducks Question On Local Democracy (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Tory Leader Ducks Question On Local Democracy

February 26, 2007 12:00 AM

County and District Councillor Jim Moley has highlighted the double standards of the Vale's opposition leader because of her decision to remain as the Vale's Chair of Scrutiny yet to oppose such proper scrutiny by opposition parties at the Tory County Council.

A recent motion at the County Council proposed by Liberal Democrats called on the Council to adopt the same standards of scrutiny as the Vale by offering Scrutiny Chairs to opposition parties. The proposal was defeated and the Vale's opposition Chair of Scrutiny voted with her party to oppose this.

The system of local government set up in 2001 involves an Executive to run each authority with one or more scrutiny committees to oversee their work. Since the system was introduced the Vale has ensured that the opposition holds the chair of Scrutiny and that any enquiries conducted by this committee are fully supported by the Council. The Vale has been commended by the Audit Commission for the positive role played by the Scrutiny committee in the work of the authority.

At the Vale's Council meeting on 21st February, Cllr Moley asked the Tory leader:

'Does the Chair of Scrutiny support the Vale's approach to Scrutiny, which allows the opposition to chair this committee in the interests of democracy or would she rather the Vale adopted the County Council's approach - which she recently supported in a vote there - whereby the ruling Tory Group has taken all paid Committee Chairs for itself?'

In response the Tory leader refused to accept that there was any conflict between her two roles. Cllr Moley therefore asked:

'So the Chair of Scrutiny is content to put on record that she is happy to say one thing and do another. If she is not, when will she resign?'

Cllr Moley said afterwards: "Cllr Tilley spoke a lot but said little in her reply to my question. She still can't admit that she says one thing at the County and does another at the Vale. The Vale has a democratic system, which allows its opposition to properly scrutinize the Executive. The County does not. Residents can decide which of these approaches is more democratic.