By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
Democracy and transparency are important, at whatever level of government.
For local government, it’s particularly important because there isn’t a colossal media resource providing scrutiny and oversight of what happens in councils.
Since the Liberal Democrats, supported by Labour and the Independent councillors, took control of Wokingham Borough Council, there has been a concerning trend of ducking challenge, taking decisions behind closed doors, and ignoring residents’ opinions when it suits them.
Just weeks into their administration, the new Executive dismissed a consultation that over 3,000 residents responded to, simply because the outcome wanted one Council election every four years instead of elections by thirds.
At the time, a Council officer confirmed this move would save millions of pounds. But the Liberal Democrats and Labour had already decided what was best without waiting to hear what residents thought, despite the financial cost.
Next, the administration said that they would hold a consultation on the future of bin collections.
The Conservatives challenged the Lib Dem leadership, asking that if residents said that they wanted to keep weekly bin collection, would the Council honour the public’s wishes? They wouldn’t commit. When the consultation was published, keeping weekly collection wasn’t even included as an option.
More recently, without asking residents what they think, the Liberal Democrat/Labour Coalition more than doubled car parking charges and introduced charging on Sundays without a public meeting. The Conservatives argued that this is unfair, and forced the administration to admit that the decision should have been made in the open.
We brought a petition with the signatures of thousands of residents, many owners of small businesses, pleading with the Council to abandon this punishing hike in charges. Instead, Lib Dem and Labour councillors were whipped into voting against this petition.
Having created a coalition partnership, together Lib Dems, Labour, and Independents may have a mandate to force through these unpopular decisions. But they didn’t tell people in their manifestos; nobody voted for this.
There are issues facing our communities that need addressing.
Yet, the administration brought no business to the Council meeting, in November, where we brought the petition. This was the last meeting of the year with residents facing winter during a cost-of-living crisis. It seems the Coalition had already started winding down for their Christmas break on November 17. But oddly, the Lib Dem Mayor ruled that there wasn’t enough time for a question asking why there were no agenda items from the administration.
A disturbing trend has also emerged among the Lib Dem/Labour coalition of attacking anyone that dares to challenge them.
In a press release issued by the Council the Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Leisure, Ian Shenton, described criticism of the waste consultation as “fake news”. That’s despite their admission that proper process hadn’t been followed and decisions over food caddy liners had been made in secret.
I think I’ve heard another politician describe criticism as “fake news” – his complexion is more tangerine than Ian’s.
Perspective is important, but there’s a principle at stake that when making a decision, you properly consider the options, make a choice, and justify it in the face of questions. You don’t duck that criticism by branding it “fake news”.
Every time the Lib Dems make these decisions, they claim that they have no choice.
More recently they say the Council can’t afford not to double parking charges, but they chose not to save money by moving to all-out elections and they find money for other things, such as hiring expensive consultants to write HR policies.
Back in May, we warned the coalition that being in power is about taking responsibility. It’s not good enough to simply say that it’s all the fault of somebody else.
As a responsible Opposition and the largest party on the Council, we will continue to ask questions, listen to residents, support policies that we think are right, and challenge the Lib Dem/Labour administration when we think they could do better.
The Lib Dem leadership may not like it, but that’s the job our residents sent us here to do, and that’s the way that we deliver the best for Wokingham Borough.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives and ward member for Hillside
