It didn't take them long - Barnet Tory curbs on resident participation

When I attended my first Barnet Cabinet meeting nearly a year ago and put a public question it was a chastening experience. I was most surprised to learn that public questions to Cabinet were almost unheard of. For a year now, however, opponents of the council's 'Future Shape' privatisation plan and cuts to sheltered housing wardens have made it our business to put questions on those matters to the Cabinet.

Now Barnet's Tory council have voted to restrict which matters the public can address during Cabinet meetings - details in the press release from Barnet's Labour group below. It didn't take the Tories long to begin closing off the avenues of complaint that we have against their policies. This is the administration that spouts a lot of rhetoric about finding new ways to engage with residents. Any way that suits them, it seems, not us.

Barnet Tories curb public participation rights

Conservative councillors have forced through changes to public participation rights that will restrict what questions can be asked by members of the public at council committees, including, Cabinet, Scrutiny, Environment & Planning committees.

Conservative councillors on the Constitution Review Committee voted on Monday night to stop members of the public submitting questions on any matter in the remit of council committees and ruled that questions must be restricted to items on the agenda at any particular meeting.

The rule change was proposed by Cllr Melvin Cohen, who recently attracted criticism for accepting an extra allowance of £7,500 for chairing the Constitution Review Committee that meets just four times a year.

Leader of Barnet Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said:

“This is just the latest blow to democracy in our battle to stop the further erosion of public participation rights in Barnet. This Conservative council has an appalling record on public participation and consultation. They have cut the number of Resident Forums, reduced public speaking rights at Planning meetings, and now this – what are they afraid of? Frankly it's a disgrace, and we will be opposing this rule change at Full Council.”

Ends. Notes to reporters:

1. Section 4, Paragraph 4.1 of the Council's Public Participation rules states that:

“Anyone who lives or has a business in the borough may ask the Leader or Cabinet Member chairing the meeting of the Cabinet or Cabinet Committee, or Chairman of any committee, or sub-committee, a question on any matter within its terms of reference.”

Last night's vote proposes that Full Council changes this rule to read:

“Anyone who lives or has a business in the borough may ask the Leader or Cabinet Member chairing the meeting of the Cabinet or Cabinet Committee, or Chairman of any committee, or sub-committee, a question relating to an item it is considering on that occasion.”

3. A copy of the relevant sections of the Council's Constitution can be found