Below is a press release issued by the Scunthorpe Constituency Labour Party, 18th May which has been reproduced in full.

While seemingly minor, this unilateral action by the new ruling Tory group not only goes to show how the Tories are already ramping up the class divide between our political masters and the electorate, but is also in direct contradiction of their pledges for openness, transparency and accountability made less than a month ago.

This kind of attitude just goes to show that the gap between us and the ruling classes is growing each and every day, in a myriad of different directions, both locally and nationally as more and more people are excluded from the democratic process.

Press Release from Labour Party, 18th May 2011:

Despite a post-election pledge to be ‘open and transparent’ the new Tory-led administration on North Lincolnshire Council is to cut the number of public meetings by a third, it has been revealed.

Rather than the six full council meetings a year currently in place at the council, the new Conservative group has revealed plans to cut this to four.  As one of these is the annual meeting, and another the budget meeting, it means there are just two public meetings a year where local residents can directly question the council leader.

Labour group secretary, Cllr Steve Swift, said: “The day after the election Liz Redfern told residents she would be ‘open and transparent’.  Less than a week later and her Tory group is slashing the number of public meetings by a third.  It means less opportunities for residents to question her and her members on policy.  If this goes through it will mean more decisions made behind closed doors with less opportunity to question them.  So much for transparency – it’s the death of democracy here in North Lincolnshire.”

Full council meetings have also been moved from Wednesdays to Tuesdays for the first time since the authority was set up 15 years ago.  Cllr Swift added: “The council has always met on a Wednesday. Now, without consultation, meetings are on Tuesdays. There seems to be no method to the Conservative’s madness.”

The agenda for the council’s annual general meeting has been made available today (WEDS) but is missing key details regarding the make up of committees and groups within the council.  The Tories are yet to release details regarding Scrutiny panels, the planning committee and other key groups.

Cllr Swift added: “Officers and members are in limbo whilst the Tories deny everyone access to information.  Their arrogance is astounding.  This goes against their very first post-election pledge to be open and transparent.  They are just denying all officers and elected members from finding out how many people will be on certain panels and committees.  It begs the question, what are they trying to hide?”

The independent remuneration panel papers have also been kept back by the Tories.  This means members of the council do not have access to key independent recommendations regarding expense and allowance levels for the 2011/12 financial year.  Cllr Swift added: “How can members be expected to make decisions regarding expenses and allowances when they haven’t even seen the recommendations by the independent panel?  The whole process is an absolute farce and the Tories have only been in control for a week.”