Past Events

Overview & Scrutiny - 17 Aug 06 - A Travesty of the Democratic Process

This Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting followed objections to the Cabinet decision of July 25th. The committee rejected the motion to refer the canal corridor north decision back to Cabinet. Members of the public were not allowed to ask questions as was expected, but only to make statements at the end of the meeting. Most disheartening was the undisguised contempt with which Labour and Conservative councillors treated not only the general public who attended but also the Green councillors.

In a travesty of the democratic process, the double act of Cabinet chairman Cllr Barker and Lib Dem cabinet colleague Cllr Stone, who had both voted to sign the planning delivery agreement with Centros Miller, were allowed to spend an inordinate length of time responding to the committees questions and promoting their own point of view, but Lib Dem Chairman Stuart Langhorn barred Green Cabinet member Cllr Barry who had opposed the Cabinet decision, from participating in the discussion or making a statement.

Since Cllrs Barker and Stone were in favour of the development, no dissenting voice from Cabinet was allowed to be heard and Cllr Barry was only allowed a few minutes to ask some questions at the end.

Cllr Barker has conveniently ignored section 2.4 of the Council's own Canal Corridor Development Brief, which says: 'Finally the regeneration of the area must be carried out in close consultation with local people and address their needs and aspirations.' Cllr Barker's claims of proper public consultation were exposed as a complete sham.