The Conservative Group at Suffolk County Council has criticised a decision by Reform UK to limit democratic scrutiny at today’s Cabinet meeting, where councillors were due to consider significant matters including road improvements and the travel policy for young people over 16 years old.
At the start of the meeting, Cllr Michael Hadwen, Leader of Suffolk County Council, announced that councillors would be restricted to asking only one question on each agenda item. Traditionally, councillors are permitted to ask up to three questions, allowing for meaningful scrutiny, clarification on behalf of residents.
Cllr Richard Rout, Leader of the Conservative Group at Suffolk County Council said:
“This morning, writing in the East Anglian Daily Times, the new Leader of Suffolk County Council promised ‘honesty, accountability and openness’. That pledge didn’t last beyond 2pm today when, at the new administration’s first Cabinet meeting, the Leader chose to abandon long-standing precedent and reduce opposition members from being able to ask three questions each, to just one.
“This follows the worrying pattern we’ve seen elsewhere, where Reform councils flee from scrutiny and being held publicly to account. Simply put, they are shutting down democracy. The question has to be; what are they afraid of?
“The leader claims to believe local government ‘exists to serve people, not itself’, the first thing he could do to be true to his word is acknowledge his mistake and revert to allowing his Cabinet to be held to account at meetings.”
The Conservative Group believes that robust scrutiny is an essential part of local democracy. Restricting councillors’ ability to question and challenge decisions on matters of significant public interest reduces transparency and weakens accountability at Suffolk County Council.
