RECENT letters alongside one from Councillor Brian Watson of July 25 wrongly suggest that Labour somehow “squashed” debating time on the call for resignations over the Lendal Bridge trial.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It was Labour that ensured a debate took place by referring an earlier Lib Dem motion to Cabinet, so that a full report on the trial could be available, with all the relevant information and collated data.
However it is ironic that Conservative/Lib Dem opposition spokesmen also seek to give the misleading impression that Labour “filibustered” to constrain debate on their partisan and forlorn attempt to force the resignations of leading Labour figures.
At recent full council meetings, both opposition coalition parties have packed the agendas with countless questions – questions which could be simply dealt with between council meetings if opposition members were properly engaging with the council’s paid officers.
At the most recent meeting, I counted some 95 questions tabled by Conservative/Lib Dem members, and at the March meeting, some 85; these clearly would not be reached in the available time.
Questions not reached are subsequently given written answers, but consume vast quantities of officer time, which constitutes an abuse of process by an irresponsible opposition.
Cllr Sandy Fraser (Labour), Micklegate ward, Millfield Road, York.
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