Democracy Compromised At SODC Say Lib Dems

THE ruling Tories at South Oxfordshire District Council have been accused of threatening local democracy following their decision to Chair the council’s Scrutiny Committee themselves.
In a press release today, entitled, “Democracy Compromised at SODC as Tories Decide to Scrutinise Themselves!”, David Turner, Liberal Democrat Group Leader at SODC, wrote the following:-
“The ruling Tory Group on SODC, in a display of complete arrogance, have decided to take the chairmanship of the Scrutiny Committee for community related items and services. This committee checks on decisions of the Cabinet. When the Liberal Democrats were the ruling group they made sure that the opposition Tory Group chaired the Scrutiny Committee, as they believed that you should not be in charge of the committee which scrutinises your own decisions. Sadly the Tories do not share this view.

All four opposition groups (Liberal Democrats, Henley Residents, Labour and Independents) opposed this anti democratic move that had not happened before in South Oxfordshire. There is an old saying that “government is only as good as its opposition.” The Tories are now trying to gag opposition as much as it can. What are they afraid of that they feel they need to go down this undemocratic route? This was a sad day for democracy and has soured the relationships between the groups who have been trying hard to work together for the benefit of South Oxfordshire residents.”