Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Local Election News 2004
The Local Elections on June 10 changed Cardiff’s
political complexion. On June 9th Labour held 48 of
the 75 Council seats, the Liberal Democrats had 18
seats, 5 Conservatives, 2 Plaid Cymru and 2
Independants made up the balance.
The Liberal Democrats are now the largest group with
33 seats, Labour holds 27 seats, the Conservatives 12
and Plaid Cymru have 3. This leaves no party with
overall control of the Council. Progressing any
party’s manifesto commitments relies on at least two
parties working together.
The Liberal Democrats are now in charge of the Council after establishing an alliance with the 12 Conservative Councillors. In a shoddy deal the Conservatives have apparently agreed not to support any motions of no confidence in return for a cosy relationship with the Lib Dems. Clearly a vote for the Liberal Democrats might as well be a vote for the Conservatives.
The Lib Dem, Tory alliance is proposing to overturn the Council's current constitution that determines the Council is run by a Cabinet and Leader who are identified and fully accountable for their decisions and replace it with the woolly so-called "fourth option" designed for use by small English District Councils. The fourth option, if implemented will obscure responsibility for decisions and enable the Lib Dem & Tory alliance to take credit for success whilst passing the buck for unpopular decisions or failures to an Executive Committee.
Is this what the voters of Cardiff want? Labour will be pressing for full public consultation before the fourth option is introduced.
With the resignation of Councillor Goodway as the
Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Greg Owen
(from Llandaff) now leads the group. The new Deputy
Leader of the Labour group is Trowbridge Councillor
Ralph Cook.
political complexion. On June 9th Labour held 48 of
the 75 Council seats, the Liberal Democrats had 18
seats, 5 Conservatives, 2 Plaid Cymru and 2
Independants made up the balance.
The Liberal Democrats are now the largest group with
33 seats, Labour holds 27 seats, the Conservatives 12
and Plaid Cymru have 3. This leaves no party with
overall control of the Council. Progressing any
party’s manifesto commitments relies on at least two
parties working together.
The Liberal Democrats are now in charge of the Council after establishing an alliance with the 12 Conservative Councillors. In a shoddy deal the Conservatives have apparently agreed not to support any motions of no confidence in return for a cosy relationship with the Lib Dems. Clearly a vote for the Liberal Democrats might as well be a vote for the Conservatives.
The Lib Dem, Tory alliance is proposing to overturn the Council's current constitution that determines the Council is run by a Cabinet and Leader who are identified and fully accountable for their decisions and replace it with the woolly so-called "fourth option" designed for use by small English District Councils. The fourth option, if implemented will obscure responsibility for decisions and enable the Lib Dem & Tory alliance to take credit for success whilst passing the buck for unpopular decisions or failures to an Executive Committee.
Is this what the voters of Cardiff want? Labour will be pressing for full public consultation before the fourth option is introduced.
With the resignation of Councillor Goodway as the
Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Greg Owen
(from Llandaff) now leads the group. The new Deputy
Leader of the Labour group is Trowbridge Councillor
Ralph Cook.
