Opposition parties demand a voice in cabinet debates

A ROW has broken out about the right of county councillors to speak at meetings where decisions are being taken which affect their residents.

Opposition members lined up to accuse Lancashire’s ruling Conservative group of denying democracy by restricting the forums in which they can make comments.

But Tory council leader Geoff Driver claimed that the speaking privilege had been abused by other political groups - and that members still had plenty of opportunity to make their points.

During a full council debate, the Liberal Democrat group attempted to win support for an amendment that would give residents “the right to be represented by their local county councillor at any decision-making meetings”.

Only cabinet members and the leader and deputy leader of the main opposition group are allowed to contribute to the cabinet debate under changes introduced two years ago.

At other cross-party scrutiny committees, non-members are able to speak at the discretion of the chair.

County Coun Matthew Tomlinson said his non-political friends would struggle to understand the logic of the arrangements.

“They would be astounded if they knew that there was something going on in my division that was [being decided] here - [but] that I would not be allowed to go and speak about it.”

However, County Coun Driver said the situation was of the opposition parties’ making, referring to the adjournment of a cabinet in December 2018 - after the new rules were brought in - when Lib Dem group leader David Whipp attempted to present a petition.

The Green Party’s Gina Dowding also called for the authority to “redress the concentration of power”.

Cabinet decisions are open to discussion at subsequent full council debates.