Redbridge Tories in Turmoil; LibDems Step In to Save the Day

9.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 31st May 2009

In recent weeks Redbridge's Tory Group have been in complete turmoil. In April, following months of infighting, party leader Alan Weinberg was replaced by Keith Prince. The move divided the party straight down the middle with Cllr Prince just securing the position. On 21st May Cllr Prince tried to seek Council approval for a new Cabinet that was to include Cllr Weinberg but exclude most of the previous portfolio holders. Several members of the Tory Group did not attend the meeting whilst three resigned the whip and became independents. With the 11 LibDem councillors and the Labour Group not supporting the proposals Redbridge was left without an administration.

Cllr Prince convened meetings with the opposition parties and the LibDems agreed to support his minority administration on condition that he and his cabinet commited to implementing a number of our key policies and was prepared to commission a wide-ranging review of Council policy and management.

Under the agreement the Council will:

• seek to keep the Council Tax as low as possible next year and ideally achieve a freeze (as was proposed unsuccessfully by LibDem Councillors for this year);

• urgently review its plan for addressing the shortage in school places;

• review its parking charges and freeze resident and business permits fees next year;

• ensure that spending on publicity and communication is prudent and cost effective;

• review the major regeneration and leisure projects and identify affordable ways forward; and

• review library coverage and identify ways to meet any shortfall in provision.

The Council's administration has also accepted that:

• the scrutiny process will be led jointly by opposition councillors;

• future Mayors should be appointed irrespective of political party and based on merit; and

• conventions will be agreed to ensure that all the political groups have equal access to information and are properly involved in Council decision-making.

LibDem Group Leader Councillor Hugh Cleaver said: "I am pleased that we have been able to resolve the leadership crisis and win commitments to changes that will benefit the Borough. Since 2006 Redbridge residents have paid the fourth highest Council Tax increase in London whilst the Council has been fruitlessly pursuing a whole range of pet projects and refusing to involve any opposition councillors in managing any Council business. LibDem Councillors have taken the opportunity presented by the current impasse to force a wholesale change in direction, which we hope will benefit local people through a much lower tax increase next year."