Thurrock News
Is 750-page agenda too big?
11:33am Wednesday 22nd February 2012
CONSERVATIVE council leader Phil Anderson has accused Labour of hiding important issues in a “forest of paper”.
The agenda for the cabinet meeting tonight (Wednesday) is 757 pages long, and the Conservatives said it was impossible for them to scrutinise everything thoroughly.
Cllr Anderson said: “We were expecting a hefty document because cabinet this month has to agree Thurrock Council’s budget for the whole of next year.
“It is clearly impossible for the cabinet to give proper consideration to all of these.
“I can’t work out whether they are just completely disorganised, or are trying to hide things from local residents in a forest of paper. It’s not acceptable.”
Labour leader John Kent said: “Senior Tory members are paid and should be in close consultation with council officers as proposals are developed – that’s their job.
“The agenda for this meeting shows the cabinet is doing exactly what it should be doing – setting the strategic direction for the council with the resources available.
“Most of these reports have been through a series of painstaking consultation and briefings with opposition members. Others will be fully consulted upon over the coming weeks and months.
“I would suggest Cllr Anderson gets on with the job he is paid to do and starts the electioneering closer to May.”