Conservatives turn down Lib Dem call for public rights

9.54.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes

Lord Hanningfield, Conservative leader of Essex County Council has slammed a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to allow the public to speak directly to councillors at council meetings and to ask questions about the work of the council. The Leader made his comments at a debate on public participation at a meeting of the full council on 15 July.

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats group leader commented: "The Leader's comments today show a level of arrogance that is almost impossible to comprehend. There are many district and borough councils across Essex that have had such a permanent and designated spot for members of the public for several years. We are only asking for something that the public is getting already from many councils already.

"I'm sure the public is as fed up as I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are, with this high-handed Conservative administration, fobbing us off with loaded questions on public consultations and passing those off as meaningful public engagement. There is no direct public involvement at the decision making level of the county council and the public is only involved when specifically invited in.

"The Conservative talk of localism and devolving power to the people is clearly just talk. The Conservatives are simply not to be trusted on this issue."