Lib Dems explain position
May 22, 2003 12:00 AM
By Barbara Janke in Letter to the Editor, Bristol Evening Post
By Barbara Janke in Letter to the Editor, Bristol Evening Post
There seems to be some confusion and misinterpretation surrounding the current political situation on Bristol City Council.
On 1st May, the people of Bristol elected a Council with no overall control by any political party. The numbers of councillors are :
- Labour 31
- Lib Dems 28
- Conservatives 11
As a result no party can carry a vote without support from another party. The Labour Group still has the largest number of seats, but they cannot take overall control and have therefore decided that they do not want to take any role in leading the council forward. This leaves the council in its current difficult situation.
Bristol City Council has been severely criticised by government inspectors for not taking timely decisions, not delivering results and not showing strong leadership. This will not improve if a minority party, without enough votes to carry decisions through, assumes control. That would be irresponsible.
If we want Bristol council to achieve a better rating than "weak" in the inspection league tables hard choices will have to be made.
There are decisions that will need to be taken about primary schools, early years provision, swimming pools and many other matters of great importance to the people we serve. In the past some of these have been so controversial that decisions have been avoided or deferred, even with a majority party on the Council.
Of course the Lib Dems want to take control and do what we think is right. But in view of the seriousness of the problems and the likelihood of delays, with no clear majority, this would be irresponsible and jeopardise the city's future.
The Tories have said that they will not form a pact with us, and no one party can do what is necessary alone. Indeed the Lib Dems with 28 votes and a potential 42 votes against them could not. Could we really expect the other parties to abstain or support us over controversial decisions with which they disagree?
All three parties need to work together and share responsibility for the hard choices ahead of us. If we do not do this then the hard choices will not be made. We are then at very high risk of government officials moving in and taking up the reins in Bristol. We welcome the fact that the Conservatives are now supporting this option and call on the Labour group, which is the party with the largest number of councillors, to come and join us to take the Council forward.
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