Labour rejects accusation over consultation forums

The Liberal Democrat opposition on the city council claims the controlling Labour group has engineered the composition of four planned area forums to ensure it always has a majority.

But the Labour group has rejected the claim and says the forums are being set up simply to establish a dialogue with residents.

Three of the forums cater for about 15,000 residents and are represented by about 11 councillors. One contains almost 25,000 residents and has 17 councillors on it.

Liberal Democrats are asking why Pelaw, on the east side of the city, is included in the same forum as Witton Gilbert and Bearpark in the west, while Gilesgate Moor is not covered by the same forum as neighbouring Gilesgate.

Their leader, Councillor Sue Pitts, said Labour was seeking "tight control" over the forums' management and wanted its councillors as chairmen and vice-chairmen.

She said it would have been "far better if these forums had reflected community identities and the issues that concern each part of our district".

She said: "This has nothing to do with serving the needs of our city. It has nothing to do with meeting the aspirations of our residents.

"It simply represents a pathetic and self-serving response to a welcome initiative and, at the very onset of the scheme, has undermined public participation and confidence in local government."

Labour group spokesman Mick Bennett rejected the gerrymandering claim.

He said: "There is not much point in doing that as the forums are not executive committees making decisions, they are for consultation. There is no attempt to exclude anyone in the city. I am not sure what the reasoning behind their comments is.

"The Labour group has a large majority and it would be hard to get a group where it didn't have a majority."

Coun Bennett said the area forums would allow the council to explain policy and decisions, and listen to local concerns.

He added that the proposals had yet to be confirmed by the council