Tory Cabinet Climbdown on Land Sales

7.54.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Oct 2007

At the September 20th 2007 meeting of Redbridge Council the Liberal Democrat group tabled a motion calling on the Tory Administration to reconsider their policy of allotment and car park sales. They were enthusiastically backed by a public gallery full of allotments holders and residents opposed to the sell off policy. Immediately after the Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Hugh Cleaver had spoken the Tory Leader of the Council announced that his group accepted the Lib Dem motion.

Surprise conversion or tactical retreat?

We knew at least 9 Conservative Councillors had refused to support their group. As a result our motion would have been carried however much the 10 strong Tory Cabinet objected. Subsequent speeches from Cabinet Members showed no change of heart so we have to assume that the climbdown was simply to avoid immediate embarrassment.

Later in the month the Highways Scrutiny Committee fired another shot across

the Cabinet's sails over the sell off policy. It set the Cabinet a whole series of questions it wants answered before any car parks sales are agreed.

As cracks are appearing in the Tory administration so public opinion outside

the Council Chamber grows more determined in its opposition to the proposed

£200 million Council sell-off. The Save Derby Road Car Park Action Group, which has been campaigning against sale of the South Woodford car park for many months, had presented a 3,000 signature petition at the beginning of the Council meeting. The Monkhams Liberal Democrats had organised a petition containing over 900 signatures against the sale of the Charteris Road car park and the Woodford Library sites and this was also presented at the meeting (see previous story)

The Liberal Democrat Group of Councillors are determined to halt the proposed land sales. We will continue to work with residents groups across the borough to ensure the Council spends only what it can afford. Committing £40+ million on a swimming complex in Seven Kings that cannot be justified on sports, economic and social criteria and for which the operating and maintenance costs are neither costed nor funded, is imprudent bordering on reckless. The Tory Cabinet should hang its collective head in shame for even of thinking of doing so.