OPPOSITION WALKOUT - SCRUTINY CHAIR TO RESIGN

Full Council tonight. Motion from Tories to force the opposition-lead Scrutiny Committee to meet at 6pm in future, instead of the agreed 4pm (see my blog post yesterday). I and others made the point that it should be the decision of the opposition, not diktat by the leadership, if overview and scrutiny is to be independent of the leadership - as they claim they want it to be. Personally I prefer evening meetings, but the principle of opposition control of scrutiny must be defended. Evening meetings won't necessarily be attractive to all members of the public with young children and other caring responsibilities

An amendment from Cllr Mazillius to allow the Scutiny Committee freedom to decide start times was then defeated by 25 votes to 12 - all opposition members present in favour, plus Tory councillors Peacey-Wilcox and Churchman - with two further Tories abstaining (Scoccia and Cabinet member Hunter-Henderson). Before the main Tory motion was then approved, Deputy Leader Cllr Joyce made a speech supporting the opposition's right to decide and then promptly voted for the Tory motion. Two cabinet members all over the place ! Watch your back Cllr Sutton....

At that point Cllrs Mazillius (Chair of the Scutiny Committee), Stephens (Vice Chair), Adams, Bowker, Deborah Gardiner and myself walked out of the meeting in protest. On the way out of County Hall Cllr Mazillius told the CP reporter that he, Stephens and Cllr Hancock (absent ill tonight) would all be withdrawing from membership of the Scrutiny Committee, as did Cllrs Gardiner and Adams. Neither John Bowker or myself - neither of us members of this committee - will take their places. Interestingly the two remaining members of the Independent Group - Miller and Humby - stayed in the meeting..........

So where does this leave scrutiny being in the hands of the opposition ?