Lib Dems boycott Council meeting in protest at Council waste

10.03.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th May 2003

Lib Dem group with cheque for £180K they say is owed to residents as a result of Council waste

Liberal Democrat Councillors have challenged the Brent Labour Administration to take action to slash the cost of the Brent Mayor, which has risen to a massive £180,000 a year.

The cost grew by some £44,000 a year just as Labour Councillors were imposing their 22% Council Tax rise with the appointment of a new Mayor's Manager at a cost to Brent Council Taxpayers of £44,000 a year.

Cllr Paul Lorber said: "The Brent Mayor costs far too much and is of very little value to Brent residents. It is time for the antiquated position was brought up to date into the 21st Century and taxpayers money saved in the process."

The Liberal Democrat Councillors claim that the cost of the Brent Mayor is excessive and can no longer be justified at a time when the Council Tax is increasing at an exorbitant rate while basic Council services suffer.

According to Liberal Democrat leader, the Brent Mayor attends far too many functions organised by Mayor's in other London Boroughs, which are of no value to Brent residents.

"To add insult to injury, and waste even more money, the Labour administration has decided to hold two Annual Meetings of the Council. A whole evening will be devoted to the election of a new Mayor, since Labour will only allow the election of a Labour Mayor the decision is a foregone conclusion", Cllr Lorber said.

"In protest at this additional waste the Liberal Democrat Councillors will be boycotting the 1st Annual Meeting of Brent Council planned for Monday 12 May.

"It used to be the practice of electing as Mayors, Councillors with a reasonable length of Council service. Labour has devalued the position by demanding the election of Labour Mayors only – even if they have been Councillors for just 4 or 5 years. The vast cost of the Mayor has become a very expensive sham".

The Liberal Democrats have proposed to free up money for improving services in the borough by abolishing the post of Deputy Mayor, cutting the cost of the Mayor's Office by ending the many trips outside of Brent and the "Gravy train" of Mayors attending each other's events, and deleting the new extra assistant for the Mayor.