'Tory quest to destroy democracy continues' - Brooks

2.36.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Aug 2007

Outraged Liberal Democrats are today preparing for a crunch meeting of the council's Governance and Audit Committee which convenes tonight to discuss Conservative proposals to limit the number of questions asked by Members at Executive meetings to five per political group.

This move claims to 'improve the efficiency of [Exec] meetings' by clamping down on Member questions, designed to hold the all-Conservative Executive to account, and comes in the wake of the Conservative administration seizing control of the council's own watchdog body, the Overview & Scrutiny Commission.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Jeff Brooks, explained:

"It beggars belief that the Tories plan to limit questions to just five per political group. This makes no practical sense as meetings invariably last only a couple of hours and I can only conclude that this move has more to do with members of the Executive being uncomfortable being questioned by their Opposition and wishing to duck important issues raised, rather than 'improving the efficiency of Executive meetings'. Due to their sheer laziness the numbers of Executive meetings per year were slashed - how quickly will it be before they take all their decisions behind closed doors and tell the public when it suits them?"

Governance and Audit committee member Councillor Tony Vickers was equally outraged, commenting:

"Gagging dissent and muzzling the opposition is a sign of weak and poor leadership at West Berkshire Council. The best leaders acknowledge they are always able to learn more from others - the weakest leaders stamp their feet and stop those who oppose them from having their say. Liberal Democrats will be upholding democratic process in West Berkshire."