Opposition party leaders speak out on cabinet size increase

The leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties have spoken out on the increase in the size of the Labour cabinet from six to nine posts, reported by Rochdale Online.

Newly appointed Lib Dem Leader Andy Kelly said: “How can a council with a 30 per cent decrease in its budget increase the size of its own cabinet by 60 per cent? A larger Labour group on the council does not in itself require a larger cabinet as the workload requirement remains unaltered.

“This will cost council tax-payers an additional £30,000 per year. This in itself would fund four beds for Rochdale’s homeless or reinstate either the museum curator’s post or perhaps the perhaps park-rangers whose jobs were lost in the cuts.

“How many part-time cleaning posts could be funded by this large sum?”

Councillor Kelly went on to mention the £120,000 that went into funding trade union posts within the council and said that these needed closer examination if the council really was serious about tackling the cuts without loss in services.

Ashley Dearnley, speaking as Leader of the Conservatives, said: “The decision on the number of cabinet posts rests with the controlling [Labour] group. However, there are obviously cost implications to be considered.”

Labour Leader Colin Lambert had previously heavily criticised the then controlling Lib Dem group when they increased the number of cabinet posts from six to eight.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/69721/liberal-democrat-group-choose-new-leader