Liberal Democrats on the City of York Council have announced that they have called in the Cabinet report which lays out the plans for the future structure of Ward committees. The report, which had been set to go before the Labour Cabinet on Tuesday 4th March, will now be subject to further scrutiny before being considered.

The plans lay out ideas to make fundamental changes the current system in which Councillors and council officers hold meetings in local areas so that residents can have their say on schemes in local schemes. Critics of the Labour Cabinet’s plans argue that the changes suggested will have a negative effect on Councillors’ links with their local communities.

Councillor Carol Runciman, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said “The plans Labour have put forward are unclear, rushed and poorly thought out. They come on the back of huge cuts to Ward Committee funding for local projects, meaning that the result of the changes suggested would be poorer relations with local communities and a reduction in services for local residents.”

She went on to highlight the rushed nature of the process. This has resulted in the plans being brought forward without consultation with local councillors. She said “It appears that instead of Labour coming up with a carefully thought out plan, they voted to cut the budget by 65% and are now trying to pull together a system which will fit what is left.”

Cllr Runciman added “We presented an alternative budget which would have reversed the cut to Ward Committee funding. Liberal Democrats believe the council should not be in this position, but now that we are, we need to make sure that the system created is the best possible one for the people of York. A rushed approach like this is not the way to achieve that.”