A ROW has broken out over the ‘independence’ of the Town’s Deal Board after Redditch Labour accused the borough council of deliberately not including its group’s councillors.
The Standard previously reported online the Town’s Deal Board had welcomed the decision by Worcestershire County Council to relocate Redditch Library to a new community hub.
Angry people took to social media in their droves to voice their concerns, saying the board ‘was not an independent body’, as the council had claimed.
Coun Joe Baker, Redditch Labour leader said: “I honestly thought it was a joke.
“How can the Towns Deal Board be independent?
“There are no councillors from the Labour Party included, only tories.
“We weren’t invited to be a part of it so to stay its independent is ludicrous.”
Redditch Town Deal Board is a body created to develop and deliver a town investment plan and secure government funding.
Members include Coun Matt Dormer, Redditch Borough Council chief executive Kevin Dicks, Annette Daly from the YMCA and Pete Sugg from Young Solutions.
Redditch Borough Council have rebuffed the accusation, saying the controlling party was the one involved in the board.
“As a key partner in the town the Council is represented on the Board which also includes a mix of private, public, business and voluntary representatives.
“These include the college, Metis Aerospace, the Kingfisher, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) and Redditch Youth Providers’ Forum.
“The spot for chairman is at the moment vacant and we hope that will be filled soon.”
Redditch Borough Council leader Coun Matt Dormer labelled the comments ‘hate not debate’.
“It doesn’t matter which party is in control of the council, they are the ones on the board.
“It’s true there are only conservative councillors involved, but other private business, and voluntary representatives hold a range of different views.
“It is just the way a board of this nature works, we haven’t specifically excluded Labour councillors.”
