Forest Lib Dems Concerned by Weak District Council

10.04.00pm GMT Mon 1st Nov 2004

Liberal Democrats on the Forest of Dean District Council have voiced fears that the lack of political leadership from the Conservative and Labour parties could risk the failure of the Council's action plan following a disappointing Audit Commission report.

The Lib Dems have met to discuss the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment report on the Council which had just been published. They described the report as disappointing, woolly and non-specific, and saw the action plan as ambitious in time scale. They also questioned the cost of implementing the action plan, asking how it could be afforded from present budgets as the Government would not be giving any financial help.

The Lib Dems are worried that staff who are already stretched would have less time to spare on looking after the needs of local people while implementing an action plan mainly to satisfy government targets. Liberal Democrats believe that local councils should be locally accountable and that bureaucracy from Central Government should be reduced to a minimum.

Councillor Sue Henchley, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said: "I am worried that the staff could be demoralised by the report, and I do not think they should be because a number of problems were mentioned which the Council is already dealing with. We will have to work together to stand a better chance of achieving a much higher result next time. But for this to happen, clear political leadership is needed from the Councillors. I am concerned that with the present hung council this responsibility will continue to be avoided. The Conservatives in particular have proved to be very reluctant to take on the Leadership role of the Council although they have the most seats at present."

Chris Coleman added: "Michael Howard's man in the Forest, Mark Harper, must be very disappointed that his Party's councillors have shown such poor leadership and vision. At election time, the Conservatives promise local people that they will be strong - but in reality they are weak. The next election will give local people a real chance for a real change. We will be campaigning to win in the Forest, for the Forest."