Response to letter in WHT about cancelled council meetings (East of England Liberal Democrats)

East of England Liberal Democrats <info@eastlibdems.org.uk>

Response to letter in WHT about cancelled council meetings

February 3, 2012 12:00 AM
By Cllr Malcolm Cowan & Cllr Tony Skottowe
Originally published by Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats

Sir

Last week a Mr Bailey wrote about the cancellation of Welwyn Hatfield council's most recent meeting due to lack of business. This is not entirely accurate as the LibDem group had submitted a question to the council leader about a little-known change to council tax benefit which will mean many residents losing 25% of their benefit. I am pleased to say that on this occasion, leader John Dean has agreed with us.

We decided that rather than spend any of the council's limited funds on the costs that would be involved in holding a meeting just to hear a question and answer read out we would accept a written answer.

In fact this is the second occasion in a year that the only business at a council meeting has been matters submitted by the Liberal Democrat group, (nothing from Labour) and we have complained that the Conservative group seem to want as little to be discussed as they can manage.

The situation is not helped by the arrangements adopted by the Conservatives whereby virtually all decisions are taken by a Cabinet made up solely of Tories. Their public meetings rarely last more than 20/30 minutes and it is obvious that all the decisions have actually been in secret meetings beforehand.

So, yes Mr Bailey, we agree with you but we are doing our best to ensure matters of public interest are debated; no other party seems to want to.

Cllrs Malcolm Cowan and Tony Skottowe

Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats