Budget Cabinet meeting held in public for first time

The Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Colin Lambert

The Rochdale Council Budget Cabinet meeting was held in public for the first time tonight (Thursday 10 February 2011).

In the past the meetings have always been held behind closed doors.

New Council Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert said the move was part of his plan to “run an open council.”

He said: “It is about people, it is about how the rate payers’ money is spent and they deserve to know how it is decided and how it is spent.”

Councillor Lambert added: “I think it was a good meeting. People behaved, people were given the opportunity to speak and they behaved very respectably.

“The problem this local authority has had in the past is that nobody knew what was happening because no one would tell anybody.”

“It is about us – so we will talk about us in public, not private,” concluded Councillor Lambert.