Lib Dem councillors on Cambridgeshire County Council have challenged the new Tory Council to be more open, decisive and inclusive.

3.21.06pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th Jun 2009

In a message to current leader, Jill Tuck, or any other person who might replace her, Lib Dem group leader, David Jenkins has called for the Tory leadership to show that it has the strength and imagination to address the challenges which Cambridgeshire faces.

Cllr Jenkins has asked for action in 3 areas:

'The Council should stop being secretive. It should open up its policy making committees to the public and it should tell the people of Cambridgeshire the truth about the Guided Bus'

'The Council should get off the fence with regard to the Transport Innovation Fund. It should either say that 'yes' it is for it or 'no' and that it will say goodbye to £500million much needed investment in the county's transport infrastructure'

'The Council should give Fenland a better deal. The combination of a Tory County Council and Tory Fenland District Council has resulted in people in Fenland having poorer health, fewer job prospects and lower education attainment than the rest of the County. '

Cllr Jenkins further suggested that the Tories should make full use of the talent which exists amongst the Lib Dem group. He said: 'It's crazy that committees with a Cambridge City or an Ely focus should be populated by Tory councillors from Fenland or Huntingdonshire who have no involvement with them. It's muddle-headed obstinacy to put Tories on them when there are others who would do the job much better.'