Only qualified support for RDA
Date published: 14 January 2010
Support for Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) was less than convincing from the Council portfolio holder for Regeneration, Councillor Mohammad Sharif at last night's full council meeting.
Asked by Labour leader Councillor Colin Lambert "do you support RDA 100%", Councillor Sharif visibly squirmed as he hesitated far too long in beginning to answer and then offered what can fairly be described as a fudge.
Councillor Lambert asked for a simple "yes or no" answer, but Councillor Sharif, following his lengthy hesitation, said: "I do support RDA but on my terms and conditions." He failed to explain just what those terms and conditions are but when pressed again for a yes or no he finally answered "yes" but then reiterated his qualification that his support was on his terms and conditions.
Councillor Sharif also explained that RDA executives were holding "surgeries with councillors".
The question was asked following increasing concern about the cost and effectiveness of RDA and their accountability to the Council.
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