Is the pot calling the kettle black?

Pot and kettle spring to mind.

Since May 2023, the Greens & Lib Dems have formed a minority coalition, while being supported by Labour. Prior to the Greens leading Folkestone & Hythe District Council they wrote the following on their website:

The way Overview &Scrutiny Committee [O&SC] works has changed considerably since our councillors were elected [May 2019] to the District Council. Previously the committee considered the items on the cabinet agenda the day before the cabinet meeting, which was clearly too late to make any difference and in any case cabinet could and usually did ignore the recommendations from O&SC.

Taking a look at the Council’s calender for this month one sees that the O&SC is the day before the Cabinet meets. Also that the committee is chaired by Labour who support the Green led Cabinet, so this arrangement is not in line with good practice. Good practice would  be to have a Tory as Chair, or an independent.

Now given the O&SC are due to discuss the proposal for charging for car parking in Folkestone, Hythe & New Romney High Streets tonight (Agenda Item 5), it seems a bit rich, that the Greens who criticized the Tories for putting the O&SC next to the cabinet meeting the following day, are doing exactly the same as the Tories. Lest we forget the Greens have stated:

Previously the committee [O&SC] considered the items on the cabinet agenda the day before the cabinet meeting, which was clearly too late to make any difference

The Greens ability to do as the Tories have done in the past is an own goal. It could be considered by some to be hypocrisy, but that’s for you to decide.

The Shepway Vox Team

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