New era pledged for council after coalition seizes control

The new Cabinet will have its first meeting on Monday – but it is just the start of a new regime, says new leader Janet Battye.

Coun Battye, (Lib Dem, Calder), said: "We've been critical of the way in which the Conservatives ran the council and especially the decision making of the Cabinet. We intend to change that and practise what we've been preaching.

"Like the new Government, the first thing we're doing is to axe working groups that don't meet and don't work. That will start to make us more effective.

"Then we're going to make the Cabinet more open. From the next meeting, the first full business meeting, we're going to meet at 6pm to make it easier for working people to attend – just like other council meetings.

"We're going to start with a question time for members of the public and councillors. And we're going to allow people to address the Cabinet when we're considering issues and taking decisions.

"This is just the beginning of opening up the way that the council does its business so that people are able to be involved and feel that the council is listening to them."

Deputy leader Tim Swift (Lab) added: "Everyone has been frustrated by the secretive and behind closed doors approach taken by Cabinet in the past.

"Giving the public the chance to ask questions in this way is a radical new approach and reflects our belief that we are here to serve, not dictate to, the people of Calderdale."

The Tories last month lost control of Calderdale Council, which they had run since 2000 mostly without an overall majority, following the local elections.

The agreement between the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups was reached shortly afterwards. Labour had tried to mount a coup last year by offering an alliance with the Liberal Democrats, but the deal fell through.

The shake-up follows the local elections that saw both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour groups whilst the Conservatives lost ground.

The Tories still have the most seats with 20, but now the Labour Party has 10 and the Liberal Democrats have 17.