Open Government Set Back by Decades

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Nov 2002

At last night's first Bedford Borough Council cabinet meeting the Mayor made his mark by slashing the involvement of the public and their representatives. The long standing "questions from the public" was removed and the Mayor made it clear that he would not accept questions or comments during the main body of the meeting.

Cllr Headley tried to speak on behalf of Putnoe residents, regarding phone mast proliferation in the area but was prevented from doing so.

Lib Dem Leader Michael Headley said:

"I am positive about working with the Mayor and his cabinet in moving Bedford Borough forward. I would like to contribute constructively to help make progress in the interests of the people of the Borough. I was very surprised to find that local electors have now had their question time removed, and even their elected representatives were prevented from making any comment. This has set open government back decades in Bedford."

"I introduced public question time at Council Committee Meetings and I am very sad to see the Mayor's lack of commitment to continuing this. I've sat in that seat previously and was happy to be accountable to the electorate by answering their questions. The Mayor really doesn't need to be so reluctant to face the population who put him there."

This meeting follows a secret meeting the cabinet had on Monday.

Cllr Headley commented:

"Local people are going to be very suspicious of this secret meeting. People will fear that the real decisions are being taken behind closed doors before they emerge into the public arena. If they have nothing to hide why can't they discuss things at the open meeting that was only 2 days later?"