Tories Lock Themselves Out!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Jun 2002

Confusion dominated proceedings on Tuesday, as Brent's Opposition Groups found that, even with 26 councillors' signatures, they were not able to "call in" for Scrutiny ANY of the Labour Cabinet's decisions from their first ever Cabinet meeting under the new structure.

The farce follows hot on the heels of an earlier shaky start to the new Constitution. Brent had to cancel the first Cabinet meeting because 3 days notice had to be given to the Chair of Scrutiny of business to be discussed, but the Council agreed at the same Annual Meeting where they adopted this rule a Calendar with a Cabinet meeting 2 days later.

This week's situation was even dafter. Cabinet decisions have always been able to be "called in" for Scrutiny by councillors signing sheets to do this. But somehow, the new Constitution contained a wording requiring all of those signing - some 26 councillors - to have to do so AT the Offices of the Director of Committee and Member Services.

This meant that the request to scrutinise the Reports were refused, as 26 councillors were not present before the 12 noon deadline, and it is highly unlikely any Cabinet decisions will ever be "called in" on this basis given the number of councillors who work.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Paul Lorber commented:

"This is yet another complete and total foul-up under Brent's stupid new Constitution."

" Who on earth came up with the daft idea that 26 councillors should parade in front of a Council Officer to sign a form just so something can be discussed? It's ludicrous!"

"The Conservatives did ask for our support in calling the items to Scrutiny, as they don't have enough councillors themselves. As we believe in democracy, we did add our signatures so that the items, on issues such as the Grants awarded to local voluntary organisations, could be considered in detail."

"Sadly, having signed up to this new structure, with the need for so many signatures and silly rules like this, they only have themselves to blame. We have called many times for a more open system, but the Tories refused time and again to back us. Now they're paying the price, maybe even they will admit how daft the system is."