TORY LEADER CONDEMNS VOTE TO SAVE
'LAME DUCK' REGIONAL ASSEMBLEY!
Leading Bristol Lib Dem and Labour councillors have been accused of “squandering” taxpayers' money by voting to reprieve the 'lame duck' South West Regional Assembly (SWRA).
The Regional Assembly is due to be abolished on 1st April 2010 but several regional assemblies have already voted to bring forward their demise and put in place alternative working arrangements.
At a meeting of SWRA in Exeter, Assembly members voted to
overturn a proposal to dissolve early on 1 April 2009 and transfer their strategic planning and other key roles to the South West Strategic Leaders' Board.
But the move - which would have saved up to £300,000 in running costs - was lost by 34 votes to 44., with Lib Dem and Labour councillors outvoting their Conservative opponents.
Bristol Tory Leader Councillor Richard Eddy who voted in favour of axing the Assembly, hit out at the “missed opportunity.”
Councillor Eddy (Con, Bishopsworth) said: “The South West Regional Assembly has become a lame duck whose notice of execution has already been publicly announced.
“To squander yet more taxpayers' money on propping up this talking shop when there is an effective successor body in place is just plain bonkers.
“Bristol's two Lib Dem and one Labour representatives* should be ashamed for helping to block this sensible plan to cut unnecessary bureaucracy and benefit the public purse.
“Instead, we have missed a great opportunity to save up to £300,000 and agree a more efficient decision-making structure for local councils in the south west.”
*Lib Dem councillors Steve Comer and Dennis Brown and Labour leader Cllr Helen Holland voted to delay the dissolution of the Assembly.
