Cardiff Post Article October 2006

COUNCIL IN CRISIS

 

On Wednesday of last week I received an E-Mail inviting me, in my capacity as Corporate Spokesman for the Independent Group, to an additional Corporate Portfolio Briefing. This was unusual in itself, but even more strange was that no agenda was available and no papers were circulated in advance.  When I contacted various officials in the Council no one could tell me why the meeting was called or the content.

 

I attended the briefing on Friday late afternoon and was absolutely amazed and deeply shocked to be told what was facing the Council.  Cardiff Council had a projected overspend of more than 4 million pounds.  In order for this position to change, immediate sanctions were imposed where spending will be curtailed or restricted.  There are a number of questions to be asked.  Why has it taken so very long to discover the awful position we are in?  Why were Councillors not told at the Council Meeting the day before, which was a perfect opportunity for the problems to be aired and discussed and why didn’t we set a more prudent budget ?

 

I have been elected since 1999, and since the new administration has taken over Cardiff has declined. Some say that this is due to the hung Council, but when the ruling Liberal Democrat Administration does propose an idea it is usually potentially damaging to the City in my opinion.  Whether its proposing to close many of our successful schools, to introducing the dreaded CPZ’s, this administration has caused a large amount of chaos since their election to office.  So many people criticised the previous administration and how it went about running the City but whether people liked it or not at least we knew where we were going.  Now, it's anyone’s guess.

 

If a constituent would like to ask a question to the Executive at the next Council Meeting, please contact me and I can pass you the contact details of the officer you would need to speak to about logging your question.

 

My colleague Adrian Robson and I have a surgery and coffee afternoon on Friday 20^th October, between 2pm – 4pm at All Saints Church. 

 

I can be contacted on : telephone 029 2062 7757 / 079 7001 3332, fax 029 2087 7005, E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk or log on to www.rhiwbinaward.com