Tories Hold Secret Meetings to Discuss Cuts

5.45.54pm GMT Tue 9th Feb 2010

Angry Liberal Democrats have accused the Tories on East Cambridgeshire District Council of making decisions behind closed doors and rubber stamping them at public meetings.

They launched their attack after major issues affecting the district were brought to committee for decisions with little or no discussion.

Lib Dems were furious when moves to axe arts provider, ADEC and force Ely Market traders to buy and erect their own stalls turned up without warning on committee agendas.

They claim decisions are made at meetings involving the chairs of the committees and officers and then Conservative councilors are instructed to toe the party line when it comes to voting. But the chair of the council's overview and scrutiny committee, Lib Dem Michael Allen, is not invited to take part.

Lib Dem leader Gareth Wilson said: "We are seeing time and time again the Tories voting en bloc after decisions have already been made in secret. These decisions, which affect major services across the district, are coming into the public domain for rubber stamping only after decisions have already been made.

"The Tories are holding Cabinet-style meetings in private. This means there is little open discussion on issues which affect the taxpayers of this district. It flies in the face of the democratic process."

The Lib Dems attack comes after Tory leader, Fred Brown, dismissed the mass protest over Ely Market saying the decision was "a done deal".

"The Tories are not listening," added Cllr Wilson. "They are not listening to the councillors or the public. They make up their minds and everyone else is expected to fall into line. They have no time for anyone who disagrees with their plan of action."