Councillor quits ‘ineffective’ social work panel

AN OUTSPOKEN Labour councillor has quit the Isle of Wight Council’s social care scrutiny panel, branding it useless and ineffective.

Newport east councillor Geoff Lumley resigned after last Thursday’s special meeting of the adult social care, health and housing panel, which was called to discuss personal budgets, claiming he had not been given a chance to fully question the scheme.

But panel chairman Cllr Margaret Webster said everyone was given a chance to ask questions and the meeting would have gone on all night if there had not been a time limit.

“It’s pointless to be on a scrutiny panel if I’m not allowed to ask the questions I want to ask,” said Cllr Lumley.

“It’s daft to have a presentation lasting 75 minutes, when we already knew most of the information, and only a short time for questions.

“I have been saying for the past year they don’t achieve anything. It’s a whitewash.”

Cllr Lumley claimed the authority’s five scrutiny panels, all but one of which are chaired by a Conservative councillor, were unwilling to properly examine the Tory-run council.

“I do not feel the council is being open and honest with people about this,” he said.

But Cllr Webster said the system worked well and effectively debated council policy.
“I think there is enough scrutiny,” she said.

“Cllr Lumley was an active member of the panel who was good at asking questions, which is what we are here for.

“We are always sorry to see a member resign and he will be missed.”