FRESH criticism has been levelled at Labour over key council roles, as it officially took political control in York.
The party, which formally assumed command of City of York Council yesterday, has appointed its own councillors to chair three of the authority’s six scrutiny committees which analyse crucial decisions.
The roles, carrying the casting vote in cases of deadlock, were previously filled by opposition members.
Conservative leader Ian Gillies accused Labour of trying to “control and dictate”.
But Labour leader James Alexander, who, at 29, is now England’s youngest council leader following the authority’s annual meeting yesterday, insisted the appointments would not affect accountability.
Coun Gillies said: “Scrutiny is how opposition parties hold the cabinet to account and the only way they have, outside of council meetings, to effectively challenge decisions.
“In opposition, Labour and the Conservatives fought together to ensure ruling party members would be unable to chair scrutiny committees, as this would effectively allow what was then the executive to control a committee scrutinising itself.
“Now Labour are in power, one of the first things they have done is change the system. It is hardly confident leadership, more like their usual impulse to try to control and dictate.”
Coun Alexander said: “Opposition parties have a number of ways to hold the ruling party to account, of which scrutiny is just one, and it’s not our fault if Coun Gillies is not knowledgeable of these.
“Scrutiny is not only about holding the cabinet to account, but also policy review and development. Labour will take up some scrutiny committee chairs, but the Conservatives will retain the number they had before the election with a broadly similar number of elected members.”
The new leader, whose party placed an “Under New Management” poster on a Guildhall noticeboard yesterday, said: “I am immensely proud to be taking on the leadership and will work tirelessly to repay the people of York.”
Labour’s break with tradition
LABOUR’S victory in the council elections was supposed to herald a fresh start for local government in York. And perhaps it will. Yet already the new administration has provoked controversy.
Yesterday, we reported that Labour had decided to appoint an extra cabinet member, at a cost to local taxpayers of £14,700 a year. Today, we reveal it has seized control of three key council scrutiny committees.
These committees, which review and scrutinise council policy and decisions, are traditionally chaired by opposition councillors.
But as of today the health, community safety and economic and city development scrutiny committees are chaired by members of the ruling Labour group.
Conservative opposition leader Ian Gillies has cried foul, accusing Labour of trying to “control and dictate”.
Not so, countered the council’s new leader James Alexander. Opposition parties have a number of ways of holding the ruling group to account. “It’s not our fault if Coun Gillies is not knowledgeable about these.”
To an extent that is true. Vigorous debate and scrutiny in council meetings is perhaps the best way. It is also true the scrutiny committees are about more than just scrutinising council policy. They scrutinise the work of outside bodies – the hospital, the police, the Safer York Partnership – as well.
Nevertheless, they have previously been chaired by opposition groups, which promoted balance and open discussion. Now three of the key scrutiny committees are in the hands of the ruling group. This begins to smack of control freakery.
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