At a time when sleaze and dodgy deals are in the headlines as our Prime Minister battles questions of who paid for his curtains and why Conservative donors with his private phone number were far more likely to receive untendered contracts, Johnson’s commitment to improving standards in public life has been undermined by his appointment of a new standards adviser who cannot initiate his own investigations and can be overruled by the PM.  

At tonight’s Mid Sussex annual council meeting we had our own version of this where attempts to elect opposition councillors to become Vice-Chairs of the three Scrutiny committees were voted down by the Conservative administration.  Scrutiny needs to be conducted openly and honestly, on the District Council we saw the decision last year to close Clair Hall where the Conservatives tried to close down debate, and which ended up leaving the Council taken to court for making an unlawful decision, and facing legal fees of £27k. 

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Liberal Democrat leader Alison Bennett also raised the need to reinstate later start times for council meetings given issues for those with children or in work to attend early meetings.  Typically one Conservative didn’t see the issue as he managed three companies and didn’t have a problem attending meetings !!! We need councillors in touch with ordinary life not millionaires with their castles in the sky.