How much longer are TDC’s finances to be left unsupervised?

TDC_logoThe Labour Group on Tendring District Council is extremely concerned by the fact that the Conservative administration is so paralysed by its internal wranglings that it has failed to place anyone in charge of the council’s finances in the run up to TDC’s Budget meeting.

Almost 3 weeks have elapsed since Peter Halliday announced his resignation as the council’s leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Asset Management and, whilst it was immediately announced that Cllr Paul Honeywood would be acting leader of the council, no announcement has been made as to who will be overseeing the council’s finances in this very important period of the financial year.

Leader of the Labour Group of TDC councillors, Ivan Henderson, says, “This shambles results exclusively from infighting amongst the Conservative councillors and it is about time they remembered why they sought election in the first place.  I accept that nothing can be done that interferes with any police investigation into the activities of individual Conservative councillors but the acting leader should not have left the council without a Finance Portfolio Holder.  It is totally unacceptable.”

Labour believes that the announcement of an intention to cut council tax by 0.5% in the forthcoming budget was a decision taken by Peter Halliday without the knowledge of council officers and was only made public immediately prior to his resignation announcement.  If this is the case it is possible that it was a personal decision in which case his subsequent resignation leaves it requiring immediate review.

“It is hard to believe that the local Conservatives could create such a mess and if it wasn’t so serious for the residents of Tendring then it would be laughable,” he continued.  “We really do need someone steering the ship now while they argue over who should do it in the future.”

For further information please contact:

Ivan Henderson on 07889 367822