Tories set up shadow cabinet of councillors

Conservatives on Scarborough Council have set up a shadow cabinet which they say will be used to hold the leadership of the authority to account.

Leader of the Conservative group Cllr Derek Bastiman has set up his shadow cabinet to reflect the Labour and Independent administration’s set-up, with six cabinet members under the leader.

Cllr Bastiman had previously asked his fellow group leaders to set up a “rainbow coalition” of all parties to run the council during the pandemic crisis. The idea was rejected by the ruling groups.

Cllr Bastiman said the shadow cabinet would meet with council officers and scrutinise decisions.

He said: “As we move into the new economic reality that will be our borough after Covid-19 we need to ensure the multi-millionpound decisions being made in our name are the correct ones.

“Every member needs to have the chance to question the administration, this has been missing since February with the leader similarly being absent during this crisis.

Council leader Cllr Steve Siddons (Labour) said he welcomed the decision by the Conservatives.

He added: “I fully agree that every member should have their say,” adding that Labour had a similar system when in opposition.