Call to put a new leader in place for the council
Appeal for greater transparency and openness
Scarborough Council’s Labour group has added its voice to those declaring no confidence in the authority’s leadership.
The group’s leader Cllr Steve Siddons, has stopped short of tabling a motion of No confidence as it will succeed without some members of the majority Conservative group joining the cause.
The move comes after two of the town councils in the borough - Filey and Whitby - both passed votes of No confidence in the administration in the space of a week, in addition to public commentsexpressingconcerns and an online petition.
Cllr Siddons said: “Residents have been let down with a series of failings and blunders by the Conservative-led council.
“The list is endless but includes poor spending decisions, lack of vision for the development of the borough and its people, the Futurist, town centrecinema,TouristInformation Centres, harbour management, Whitby piers, whistleblower cover-up and the scandal of the illegal Marine Drive fiasco but most of all, a complete lack of transparency and open governance.
“Past votes of ‘No confidence’ have been ineffective because of the loyalty of Conservative councillors to their own. Embattled leaders have stayed in place and later have been replaced from the same Conservative inner circle.”
The opposition’s dilemma is that the council majority is held by 25 Conservative councillors plus two independent councillors who sit on the cabinet.
The opposition groups’ combined councillor total of Greens, Labour, Ukip and two independents, even if they vote together, is a maximum 23, not enough to defeat the leadership’s block of votes.
Cllr Siddons added: “Until enough members of the Conservative Group indicate they are willing to vote against their caucus and support a leader who will take the borough in a new better direction any move of ‘No confidence’ is premature.
“What the people of the borough need is for Tory party councillors to be led by their consciences – and do what’s best for the borough.
“Select a new leader and cabinet for a fresh approach – that puts accountability and transparency at the heart of the council.
“Only then will the residents of this borough get a council they deserve.”
Scarborough Council will hold its first full meeting since the Whitby and Filey votes tomorrow.
Though the votes are not on the agenda, council leader Cllr Derek Bastiman could face questions from opposition councillors.
A online petition has been signed by more than 2,500 people calling for No confidence in the leadership.