MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Tom Harney
Date of Issue: December 8th 2011
Contact numbers:
07980 280074
0151 3272146
Lib Dem office: 0151 691 8544

LABOUR 'ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL' SAY LIB DEMS

Speaking in relation to his Group's intent to push for deferral of a decision at next week's Full Council on a revised 'Corporate Plan' for the Council, Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Tom Harney said;

"It is not appropriate to try and bounce any documents through at the last minute, let alone something as important as the Council's Corporate Plan. We feel it is crucial that councillors from all Parties be given sufficient time to consider this important document, and the opportunity to be engaged in its development.

"Previous assurances were given by the Leader of the Council to include all councillors - through the Overview and Scrutiny Committees - in the development of the Budget and Policy Framework and we expect Steve Foulkes to keep his word.

"It is clear to the Liberal Democrat Group that there is still a considerable amount of work to be done on the document in order to ensure that the organisation has a coherent plan for the next year, with a clear idea of how that plan will be taken forward. We are anxious to cooperate in the development of this important document and it is essential that the Corporate Plan reflects the views of the whole Council.

"This cannot be done 'on the fly' in a few short days. To attempt to do so is not an example of the type of 'good corporate governance' that I want the Council to be subscribing to. We need a considered and robust approach to corporate planning. What we have seen so far is a shambles and, despite all the driver training and safe journey rhetoric contained in the draft document, I am afraid to say that Steve Foulkes and his Labour Administration appear to be 'asleep at the wheel'."