WIRRAL Council was last night facing calls for a “radical shake-up” and a new system of governance, after a damning report into how it is run.
Former Liberal Democrat group leader Stuart Kelly said the current cabinet system – based on national Government – should be abandoned and replaced with a return to committees involving all councillors.
The Lib-Dems hold the balance of power on the authority and allowed the Labour group to take back control from the Conservatives in May.
But Cllr Kelly last night claimed the “Labour leadership is implicated up to its neck” in a report by consultant Anna Klonowski, which attacked how the council is managed.
Council leader Steve Foulkes last night accused Cllr Kelly of trying to “muddy the waters” and insisted his efforts to repair problems outlined in the Klonowski report stemmed from her recommendations.
The criticism in that report was accepted by council chief executive Jim Wilkie and Cllr Foulkes, but Cllr Kelly said their response was “inadequate”.
He said: “The decision to establish a cabinet made up solely of Labour members is wholly inadequate, and an insult to the council as a whole.
“The Labour leadership is implicated up to its neck. Establishing a committee which excludes 61 elected members of the rest of the council can only add to the poor governance culture which was the subject of such serious independent criticism.
“It was encouraging to hear public acknowledgement from Cllr Foulkes that he has made mistakes and has personal responsibility in creating a damaging culture within the council.”
