HARINGEY LABOUR ACCUSED OVER WATCHDOG COMMITTEES

9.5.03

Opposition Liberal Democrats have today warned that Haringey’s ruling Labour councillors are in danger of turning the borough into a ‘pariah’ local council after Labour councillors have once again moved to ensure that the Labour group chairs all of the Council’s vital watchdog committees for the next year.

The Lib Dems say that the Council’s new scrutiny committees were intended to operate on a ‘non-party’ basis – as they do in most other councils. Lib Dems say that Labours grip on the system means that the committees’ watchdog role on behalf of local residents is now in a state of crisis, as Labour seeks to control the agenda of all committees.

In a further move, the Labour group are also forcing through changes to the Borough’s constitution which will curb the right of councillors to ask questions in Council. Lib Dems says that cutting back their right to ask questions is further bad news for local residents, as it is often the only way that councillors can force answers out of a reluctant council. The changes being forced through by Labour, fearful of questioning from Lib Dem councillors, will also reduce the number of Council meetings.

Cllr Ross Laird, Leader of the Opposition, comments:

"Once again, Labour has shown that they are not willing to respect the democratic process and be held properly to account. It is no accident that such a bad council is guilty of such bad practice. They have battened down the hatches and are ignoring the views of others. As usual, it will be local people and local services that will suffer as a result of this abuse of power.”

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