Dudley Councillors Demand Clarity After Being Barred From Budget Questions
Councillors in Dudley have voiced significant discontent after being informed they were not permitted to ask questions during vital budget scrutiny meetings. Members from across the political spectrum are now calling for greater transparency and clearer guidelines regarding committee procedures.
Scrutiny Process Under Examination
Throughout January, scrutiny committees composed of councillors from all parties on the authority have been meticulously examining plans for how taxpayer funds will be allocated. Cabinet members from the ruling Conservative group, alongside senior council officers, have faced detailed questioning about expenditure for the upcoming financial year and the metrics for measuring the success of their proposals.
Confusion Erupts at Key Meeting
The situation reached a head following a meeting of the Communities and Growth Scrutiny Committee on January 21st. Leading councillors from Reform UK and the Labour Party, who are not formal members of that specific committee, were reportedly told they could not pose questions to those presenting the budget plans.
Speaking after the meeting, Labour Councillor Shaukat Ali expressed his confusion and frustration. "On Monday night I was allowed to ask questions, yesterday I wanted to and wasn't allowed and again this evening I wasn't allowed," he stated. "There needs to be more clarity and guidance around what we can do and can't. Scrutiny could be better; if people are here and they have got a question to ask – let them ask the question."
Calls for Consistent and Robust Scrutiny
Reform UK Councillor Shaun Keasey, who was also present at the January 21st meeting, echoed these concerns, describing the session as substandard. "Tonight's scrutiny was not a patch on what we did last year and that's a real shame because it is the key meeting of the council," he remarked. "Setting the budget has got to be done and scrutinised in as much depth as it possibly can be. You listen and then ask a question but tonight I was told I can't ask a question. It takes that opportunity away."
Councillor Keasey further emphasised the need for consistency, suggesting it was an issue for Council Leader Patrick Harley, the chief executive, and the monitoring officer to address.
Official Procedure Explained
Aftab Razzaq, Dudley Council's monitoring officer responsible for ensuring proper procedure, provided clarification on the official rules. "There is no automatic right for members to speak at scrutiny, unless they are formally appointed by the council as members of the committee," he explained. "Other members can attend meetings as observers. The chair has the discretion to invite contributions from such observers in line with governance advice provided by officers."
Leadership Response and Expectations
Council Leader Patrick Harley, who attended the contentious meeting, defended the process while acknowledging the role of opposition committee members. "You have to ask the committee members, particularly in opposition, about the scrutiny. They are the ones who should be holding the administration to task," he said. "I expect my cabinet members to be held to account and, to be honest, I could have had a snooze on those back benches."
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about access, participation, and the effectiveness of the democratic scrutiny process within Dudley Council as it navigates critical financial decisions.
