Letter to Kentish Gazette (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Letter to Kentish Gazette

October 10, 2009 9:36 AM
By Alex Perkins, Leader Lib Dem Group, Canterbury City Council

Dear Sir

I was more than a little surprised to see Cllr John Gilbey's letter of last week in which he claimed to have offered to allow opposition councillors to take part in the council budget process. I am afraid by presenting the matter in this way he does himself and the council a disservice.

For the record, until the Conservatives took control of the council 4 and a half years ago the budget setting meetings (known as Star Chamber meetings) were open to members of all the parties on the council. Lib Dem, Conservative and Labour members sat together and scrutinised the budgets and spending of every council department so that all councillors were kept informed of where and how public money was being spent.

Sadly, once the Conservatives began running the City Council, a veil of secrecy descended over this process and only senior Tories were allowed to take part in the budget process. This regrettably continues to this day.

It is however true to say John Gilbey approached me casually at the end of a meeting earlier this year and suggested that he MIGHT be willing to let me have some access to budget meetings this year IF I gave him written undertakings that in return I would guarantee that my group would agree to certain parts of the process. At no point did he make a formal proposal on how the Liberal Democrat councillors or, more importantly, local people could participate in the budget-making process.

At the time, I said I would discuss his suggestion with my group. However, I knew the members of the Liberal Democrat group would find John Gilbey's suggestion with its associated conditions to be wholly unreasonable. Moreover, I knew that there would be those, both in the Liberal Democrats and members of the public, who would find it ironic that all the time the council finances were secure we had been excluded from the process. But that now the Conservative administration had crashed the council finances and led the city to the brink of financial ruin, they wished us to sort it out for them..

The next time I saw John he told me that he had thought about what I had said and wished to withdraw his vague undetailed non-offer.

For the record, the Liberal Democrat councillors would be very happy to fully participate in the budget process - but we believe this process must be open to all, unconditional, offer clear and explained options to local people (not the fete accompli currently presented each year) and most of all - that the council MUST go back to listening to local people and focusing on their needs..

Cllr Alex Perkins

Leader Canterbury Liberal Democrats