Council Consultation - a Sham !

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jan 2004

The fact that consultation by Bromley Council is a total sham was admitted in a paper tabled to the Council's environment committee last week.

Leading Conservative Councillor Tony Owen, who has been undertaking work on the Council's consultation process, demonstrated how councillors should decide the outcome then undertake "token consultation" and "do it" anyway.

Such a process appears to have been used recently to close Dorset Road Infant School and The Studio Art Centre.

Bromley residents affected by these Council's decisions have been frustrated and angered by the way in which Bromley Conservatives have tried to avoid a full consultation, acting on 'an assumption of closure' and imposing their political decisions on local residents, brushing aside their concerns.

Stunned Liberal Democrat Councillor Denise Payton said "The Conservative don't even bother paying lip service to consultation - even if it is a statutory requirement. It is no wonder many people say 'What's the point?' and end up disillusioned "

Cllr Owen produced a flowchart which shows once Conservative councillors have decided on an action, they consider whether they are going to take any notice of the consultation and undertake a token exercise if they have to. They then and "do it" regardless of the public's view.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Chris Maines "This is Tory arrogance at its worst.

I believe Cllr Owen's paper could be used to legally challenge several decisions taken by Bromley Council. They have

a statutory requirement to listen to, and take account of, the concerns of local residents and this proves that exercise is a sham."