Labour have been forced into a humiliating defeat as they continue to avoid public scrutiny of their failing services. Bolton Conservatives tabled a motion at a meeting of Council to move the questioning of Executive Cabinet Members (ECMs) to the front of the Council agenda.
Under the current system, which was changed by an informal process, questions to ECMs are taken at the end of the meeting if time allows. Since this was introduced, questions have only been asked only twice, due to time running out. Councillors are only the sent a written response which is not shared with the public.
For a Labour council that says it believes in openness and transparency, this vote exposes their hypocrisy. Backed by Horwich & Blackrod First Independents, they voted against the Conservative motion to restore this vital tool of democracy and accountability.
However, the Conservatives secured enough votes to put questions of ECMs back to the start of the meeting. This will ensure that Labour cabinet members must address the failings in their services.
Only the Conservatives believe, and have delivered, openness and transparency at Bolton Council.
Cllr Nadim Muslim, Leader of Bolton Conservatives, said:
This is an important victory for openness and transparency in Bolton. We can also see that services are failing in Bolton - bins not being collected, grass not being cut, and huge levels of staff sickness. If councillors can't hold Executive Cabinet Members to account publicly, how can residents have faith that things can get better?
Since Labour introduced the change, the average number of questions has dropped from 16.0 to 9.2. Members no longer submit questions because there is no point. And with over half of motions only asking the council to write to government or external body - or even just celebrate their own political party - they're not delivering the change Bolton so desperately needs.
Only the Conservatives believe in being honest with the public.
