Liberal Democrats propose amendment to secure democracy

11.28.13am GMT Wed 21st Feb 2007

Today Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council have proposed an amendment to the paper which asks them to rubber stamp previously top secret Tory plans to dramatically alter the way the county council delivers its services. The amendment calls for a set of fully costed proposals to come before full council, rather than just the Cabinet as is currently suggested in the paper.

The background papers to these proposals, which were not available to councillors until Monday, present a different picture to the paper put before Council.

Speaking about the amendment Cllr Andrew Cann said, "We feel that changes of this magnitude, which will have an effect on staff and residents in Suffolk for many years to come need to be debated fully.

The paper, which the Conservative administration has brought before full council, is simply inadequate. The paper contains no details regarding costs or numbers of staff who may be privatised and simply asks county councillors to give the administration a carte blanche to do what they wish, without further recourse to the county council. It seems the Conservative administration simply wants to plough on with their proposals to privatise scores of posts at the county council without the difficulty of democratic processes holding them to account.

All we are asking for it that a fully costed, detailed report be brought before full council so all councillors, opposition and backbench Conservative can make an informed judgement regarding the proposals.

We have no problem with moving the council forward to be better suited for the times ahead, making it more efficient and able to deliver services at better cost to the taxpayer; we do however feel that changes of this scale need to be discussed fully and openly to ensure that the hardworking, dedicated workforce the county council employs and the taxpayers of Suffolk, can all be sure these are well thought out, achievable proposals."