Conservative county councillors mark their own homework

Conservative County Councillors are ignoring national best practice by insisting on chairing scrutiny committees, meaning that they assess their own performance on the council. Cllr David Tutt, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, explains:

“Scrutiny of the council’s policies and procedures is the key way in which opposition groups can assess and challenge the way the council is performing under a Conservative administration. It is a critical part of the democratic process. National best practice is for all scrutiny to be chaired by members of the opposition party.

"The Conservatives have consistently refused to allow this, instead choosing to mark their own homework by chairing all the scrutiny committees themselves. This is undemocratic and once again reflects their refusal to be open to any kind of challenge despite the fact that across the country they have now lost their mandate to govern.

"I urge the Leader of the Council to reconsider this ill-advised decision and to allow proper scrutiny of the Council’s activities under a Conservative administration”.