THE new leaders of Calderdale Council have promised “open” government.
The council’s new Cabinet will meet in the evenings to allow working people the chance to have their say.
And that is only the start of a new regime, said Clr Janet Battye, the new Lib Dem leader.
The Lib Dems and Labour took control of the council after the minority Conservative administration lost seats in the council election on May 6.
Clr Battye said: “We’ve been critical of the way in which the Conservatives ran the council and especially the decision-making of the Cabinet.
“Like the new Government, the first thing we’re doing is to axe working groups that don’t meet and don’t work. That will start to make us more effective.
“Then we’re going to make the Cabinet more open – from the next meeting, the first full business meeting, we’re going to meet at 6pm to make it easier for working people to attend – just like other council meetings.
“We’re going to start with a question time for members of the public and councillors. And we’re going to allow people to address the Cabinet when we’re considering issues and taking decisions.”
Deputy Leader Clr Tim Swift (Labour) said: “Everyone – the public, our staff, and most councillors – have been frustrated by the secretive and ‘behind closed doors approach’ in the past.”
