North Somerset Lib Dem News

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Lib Dem Leader replaced as Chair of Environmental Services Scrutiny panel
 
Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Deborah Yamanaka was replaced as the chair of the Environmental Services scrutiny panel on Tuesday evening by Tory leader Cllr Nigel Ashton at the annual meeting of North Somerset Council.

Cllr Yamanaka (Lib Dem Wrington) has chaired the scrutiny panel for the last 12 months and previously was the Executive member for Environment and Community under the joint Lib Dem administrations.

Cllr Yamanaka said “Cllr Ashton told me of the decision to remove me just a few minutes before the Council meeting. He said that I had not been helpful when talking to the Press. It seems odd to me that, if the Tories are open enough to appoint an opposition member as a panel chairman, they are surprised when there are differences of opinion! Presumably the Tories only want opposition chairmen who toe the Tory Party line."

The Conservatives on North Somerset Council have instead offered the chair of the Community Services panel to a Lib Dem member. It will be interesting to see how long this position lasts. Scrutiny panels are meant to scrutinise decisions taken by the Executive members on the Council and this is likely to be more effective if carried out by opposition members.

Cllr Yamanaka added "The Tories have a large majority and can pass any measures that they choose. This has made them so arrogant that they do not want any opposition at all."