This morning councillors gathered for a full public meeting of Salford City Council, to discuss important proposals for changes to local ward boundaries.
Proposals by the Labour group on the Council were published last week, and included a new Quays ward, the merger of Barton and Winton wards, plus new wards for Blackfriars and Trinity, Cadishead and Lower Irlam, and Higher Irlam and Peel Green (see previous Salford Star article for full details ? click here).
There is a public consultation running until 3rd September, and the Conservative group was expected to share its alternative proposals this morning for a full debate in the Council chamber. However, after Deputy Mayor, John Merry, introduced the motion, Conservative Councillor Iain Lindley stood up, and said the group could not support the Labour proposals and would be making an 'alternative submission'.
He didn't share the Tories' alternative proposals, saying they weren't 'finalised' as the opposition group didn't have the same officer support as the ruling Labour group. This was disputed by John Merry, adding that the Conservative proposals were somehow "top secret", while Labour Councillor Tracy Kelly was indignant... "Nobody in the city knows what they're offering!"
Meanwhile, Labour Councillor Paul Wilson declared that he was "surprised" the Tories hadn't revealed their proposals and accused them of being anti-democratic...
"This is about involving the public but the Tories are alienating them by not giving proposals for the public to be engaged with before 3rd September" he said.
Nonplussed officers then moved straight to a vote, with the huge Labour majority ensuring its proposals were endorsed. The meeting ended after less than half an hour...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
