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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 31 October 2008

Meetings axed, but Town Hall insists: It’s no holiday

THE Town Hall’s ruling Lib Dems have defended a decision to cancel three meetings in the face of opposition claims that highly-paid members would rather go on holiday than debate important issues.
The cancelled meetings are of the executive (November 20), north area committee (November 4) and the Islington Today debate.
As a result, consideration of a school organisational framework, business waste recycling and a Market Road dispersal order will be delayed until the next executive meeting.
The only item delayed by the north area committee cancellation is a budget report. Since May last year, 10 meetings have been cancelled due to lack of business.
The Town Hall said the Islington Today debate – to discuss the future of the borough – was cancelled because outside speakers were unavailable.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton said: “It’s not been cancelled for anyone to go on holiday, it’s because I want to be out there talking to residents.
“I don’t think people judge us on the number of meetings but by our effectiveness. It’s up to Labour if they want to sit around in talking shops.”
Labour councillor Paul Smith said: “These people are the highest-paid executive members in the country and for the next three months they are not having an executive meeting. If they are not having a meeting I don’t see why they should get paid.
“I understand it’s because a number of councillors want to go on holiday. It shows they aren’t interested in the issues they are only interested in the money.”
A Town Hall spokesman denied the meetings were cancelled so councillors could take holidays. “All the executive members will be in Islington on the days of the meetings,” he said.
“The meetings were cancelled because of a lack of business. Meetings are expensive, and a decision has to be taken whether there is enough business to justify the cost to the taxpayer.”

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