25% Cut In Number of Executive Meetings - 26k More Allowances For Tory Councillors

10.05.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Dec 2005

A slash in the number of Executive meetings by a quarter was voted through last night by Conservative run West Berkshire Council. Conservative Councillors then voted down a separate Liberal Democrat proposal to add one full Council meeting into the schedule in a bid to repair the damage that will be done to public accountability.

The Executive meetings give the public the opportunity to quiz the Executive and present petitions to the Council. The Council voted last night to move from a monthly to a six weekly cycle of Executive meetings, meaning 9 meetings instead of 12 per year, every Liberal Democrat Councillor opposed this move.

"It is an outrage that now that the Conservatives are in control, having increased the number of allowances they pay themselves, have now voted to cut the number of meetings at which the public can hold them to account," says opposition Group Leader, Cllr Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West)

Cllr Brooks added "As a constructive opposition we tried to repair the damage the Conservatives have done to accountability by proposing an extra Council meeting. I am disappointed that not a single Conservative Councillor voted with us to improve democratic accountability. What could be more important for a Council?"

Factual Appendices:

1. On taking control of the Council from the Lib Dems the Conservatives increased percentages of allowances paid to the ruling group from 65% to 85% or £25,969.

2. Former Leader of the Council Cllr Keith Lock (Lib Dem, Mortimer) proposed the motion calling for an extra Council Meeting and Cllr Jeff Brooks seconded the motion which was defeated. All Conservatives present and the "Independent" member voted against the motion, all Liberal Democrat Councillors present voted for the motion.