Council leader under fire over scrutiny leads

'They appear to want to mark their own homework'

Torbay Council’s new Conservative administration has come under fire from its opponents for turning the council into a “one-party state” by appointing its own members to key positions.

But the Conservatives insist they are committed to engaging with the whole council and have chosen the right people for the job.

At an adjourned meeting of the full council on Friday the majority Tory party put forward its proposals for ‘scrutiny leads’ to oversee council policy in a number of key areas. Apart from one experienced Liberal Democrat councillor responsible for children’s services, the party chose four newly-elected Conservative councillors for the other key jobs.

Cllr Cordelia Law (Lib Dem, Tormohun) has the portfolio for children’s services. She said she was “extremely disappointed and saddened” at her colleague’s rejection, and said the appointments went against prime minister Rishi Sunak’s advice. She added: “They appear to want to mark their own homework using inexperienced teachers.

“This administration has not only chosen to put forward all new and inexperienced councillors, but also take the majority of lead positions on the council and give them to those new and inexperienced councillors.”

Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) said it was traditional for the key roles to be shared more equally among parties and, he added: “Torbay Council is not a one-party state, and an impartial view would determine that these seats are shared out more equally.”

And former council leader Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) went on: “Having the confidence that you can be held up to scrutiny results in better outcomes for your community. Choosing to exclude other members from that is not a good look.”

But council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) insisted: “We are looking to work constructively and engaging across the whole council.”