Yesterday proved a good day for democracy at Teignbridge Council.
An agenda item for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee proposed that the Conservative Councillor responsible for Car Parking should Chair the committee which will scrutinise the efficiency and working practices of the councils car parks! This meant that a member of the ruling Conservative administration was being proposed as the person leading the questioning of that council function! Open and transparent that simply could not be! A classic case of Head Game Keeper being asked to play Senior Poacher….not on in my book!
I spoke as strongly as I could, recognising that the committee had valuable work to do, but that the proposal simply could not be justified and was a clear attempt at” abuse of power” by the Conservative group.
While the Chairman of the OnS Committee didn’t seem to want to put the matter to a vote, we Lib Dems insisted and won the day, courtesy of one ( brave and honest) Conservative joining us along with two Independents. A real victory for common sense and democracy and I publicly applaud those who voted with us on this occasion!!!

Opposition groups don’t win many votes, but they are very sweet when they do! The Lib Dems are committed to open honest and transparent democratic practices, and while I have anything to do with it, they will always be guiding principles for my party.