Labour blocks bid to remove cabinet members from key committees

LABOUR COUNCILLORS in Kirklees have voted to prevent the removal of ruling cabinet members from key planning committees.

They said perceptions among the public that planning was somehow “bent” and that members were “taking back-handers” were “completely false and baseless”.

Critics argued that the presence of members of the council’s top decision-making body on “non-political” planning committees risked “the appearance of bias whether it is there or not” and called for a change to the council’s procedure rules, which received cross-party support.

But there was a robust pushback from Labour, who rejected what they felt was an inference of corruption.

Coun Cathy Scott, who sits on the strategic planning committee, said she felt the move questioned her integrity as an impartial member.

She said Labour members are singled out and “personally attacked”. She said the planning process was under threat from proposed government changes that would “take democracy away” from local people.

“It’s not cabinet members that have taken it away. It’s national government [and] what they’re pushing through.”

Council leader Shabir Pandor said the perceptions were “completely false and baseless”.

The Conservatives’ Coun John Taylor said he was disappointed at the tone of the debate and said there had been an attempt “to suggest things that weren’t included in what was originally proposed”.

He added: “This is very simple to me: the public do not have confidence in the way that we make decisions.”