Dudley Council’s Labour leader calls out cabinet members for poor performance during budget hearings, questioning their fitness for office amid significant budget cuts.
During these hearings, councillors faced tough questions about the proposed budget for 2025/26. The ruling Conservative group plans to save £42 million, which raised concerns.
Cllr Pete Lowe criticized cabinet members for relying too much on their officers. He believes they should engage more with the community, especially those affected by budget cuts.
Cllr Lowe stated that it’s unacceptable for cabinet members to propose cuts without knowing the people impacted. He called this an abuse of democracy.
Despite the criticism, council leader Cllr Patrick Harley defended his team. He acknowledged that some members were nervous but felt they could improve with experience.
Cllr Shaun Keasey, an independent member, also expressed disappointment. He noted that some cabinet members seemed unprepared and passed questions to officers instead of answering themselves.
The interim chief executive, Balvinder Heran, explained that officers handle the technical details of the budget. He believes the division of questions was appropriate.
Cllr Harley missed the scrutiny meetings due to a family holiday. He expressed regret for not being there to support his team during the discussions.
