Posts Tagged 'transparency'

Asking the questions about public scrutiny

At the Joint Cabinet Meeting on Monday 4th May 2020, I asked several questions of the Leader – when would we know a clearer timetable for the Joint Local Plan, would this take into account, and have time for discussion of, the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies the Council declared in July 2019 and, most importantly, why was there a five month gap between full Council meetings?  While there is still a lockdown for the Coronavirus pandemic vitural meetings are being held so why not a meeting of all Councillors?  We need full, transparent scrutiny and need to have more of our discussions open to the public.

East Anglian Daily Times 4th May 2020

EADT scrutiny article 2020-05-05

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Budgets and transparency

Mid Suffolk District Council’s  budget for 2015/16 is due to be approved at the Council meeting at the end of February.  The core budget (of approximately £10 million) is very similar to last year – and the year before.  However – there is an additional £2 million, plus over £3 million underspent from previous years, allocated to “delivery plan projects”.  This is money for projects intended to “transform” how the Council works and make the Council more sustainable – yet there is no clear overall plan of how this money will be spent and therefore very little transparency or accountability to the public.

In addition the Council is asking councillors to agree potential borrowing of £25 million for future Council projects – again with no detail.

I would like to see far greater transparency and accountability in explaining the Council’s budgets to the general public – and getting the public’s opinion on how the money should be spent.


Contact me

rachel.eburne@midsuffolk.gov.uk tel: 01449 673311 or 07768 460 108

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