Tories soft on Labour maladministration - Dakers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Jun 2007

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Andrew Dakers has attacked the Tory-led administration for not suspending a Labour planning committee's maladministration

Responding to a Local Government Ombudsman report that found "maladministration" in Labour-dominated Heston & Cranford Area Planning Committee the Liberal Democrat group last night tabled a motion to suspend the committee. In a confused response the Tories failed to back the firm action. After the meeting Lib Dem group leader Cllr Dakers said that through indecisiveness Hounslow Tories were failing to manage the liability that Heston & Cranford local area planning committee presents the borough.

Speaking at Hounslow Borough full council (June 26th), Cllr Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, said:

"The Ombudsman concluded that there was "maladministration" in the way that the Heston & Cranford Area Committee considered the officers' recommendation to take enforcement action and reached its decision not to take such action.

"This can only damage the reputation of our Council and undermine our attempts to create a borough of which we are proud.

"A question Cllr Sharma should answer for the people of Hounslow tonight is what disciplinary action his party has taken given the poor performance of his councillors?

"A question that Cllr Thompson must answer is why the administration has failed to provide extensive and systematic training in their first twelve months of office on the new members' code of conduct, as well as planning policy and procedure.

"Given this unfortunate situation we believe the only responsible way forward is to suspend the Heston & Cranford Planning Committee until such time as all its members have undertaken the mandatory training."

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Dakers added:

"The Tories opted to go away and have a think about what to do next. Through indecisiveness they are failing to manage the liability that Heston & Cranford local area planning committee presents the borough.

"Tough action was required tonight. Instead the Tories are burying their head in the sand and threatening to impose fines on the Heston & Cranford voluntary sector because of Labour members' lack of training and ineptitude."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Motion on Full council agenda item 6 - Local Government Ombudsman Report

Proposer: Cllr Dakers

Seconder: Cllr Howliston

This Council notes that the administration has failed to provide extensive and systematic training in their first twelve months of office on the new members' code of conduct, as well as planning policy and procedure.

This Council resolves to:

1) Implement mandatory training in the next eight weeks for all members on planning and the members' code of conduct.

2) Suspend the Heston & Cranford Planning Committee until such time as all its members have undertaken the mandatory training. Until the suspension ends all Heston & Cranford decisions will go to the Sustainable Development Committee.