Liberal Democrat run council administration under attack

Cllr.Brian Davies

The new Liberal Democrat run council administration has come under sustained attack in the past week. Following Conservative Group leader Ashley Dearnley's criticism of the Lib Dem decision to ban the other party leaders from informal Cabinet meetings, Labour councillors in Middleton and Heywood have added their voices to that criticism.

In Middleton, Labour councillors Ian Robertson and Lil Murphy have 'called in' the decision by the Lib Dems to freeze all council recruitment. Cllr Robertson said: "I am particularly incensed because it knocks on the head a vital aspect of Middleton’s devolution, the new Town Centre Manager. Rochdale has had one for years but apparently it’s not considered sufficiently important for Middleton. What impression of the Council is this going to give to Middleton businesses? There has been no consideration of the impact of such an ill thought out decision on the council’s performance; it’s a knee jerk reaction."

Middleton East Liberal Democrat Cllr Irene Cooper has been accused by Labour of "selling out" her constituents over the planning application for houses on the former Millfold Depot. During the election campaign the Lib Dems said they would vote against the development, however, when the matter came before Middleton Planning Committee Cllr Cooper was absent from the vote, she was believed to be attending a birthday party instead - something that Labour councillor David Murphy was highly critical of as the vote went the way of approval on the chairpersons casting vote.

In Heywood, North Heywood Labour Councillor Brian Davies rounded on the Lib Dems Peter Rush for failing to attend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Davies said: "It would appear that our new Lib Dem councillor is following the well worn path of non-attendance at meetings of last years Lib Dem members, who complained bitterly and consistently about being excluded from the decision making process, from the setting of the budget downwards, but did not attend. Or on the occasions they did attend, would not comment constructively or otherwise.   This effectively means they abdicated responsibility and were able to 'snipe' from the side lines!"