Caerphilly Council Cabinet Member Colin Mann has attacked the Labour opposition for not engaging in crucial discussions over the financial challenges faced by the council.
Cllr Mann, who has responsibility for finance and resources, said Labour were doing a great disservice to the people of the county borough by just “burying their heads in the sand”.
He said: “At the last policy and resources scrutiny committee, Labour councillors, supported by Independent Members, made it clear that they did not want to be consulted on the issue of jobs within the authority until after all consultations and negotiations have been exhausted with the trade unions.
“Well, those discussions would never be exhausted so what Labour is saying is that ‘we don’t want any input and we’re not interested in working for the best of the county borough residents and our staff’. They even refused to let the council’s officers present their reports to the meeting. What sort of responsible opposition is that?
“The financial crisis faced by this authority is not of our doing but the mismanagement of the economy by the incompetent New Labour Government and the spending cuts planned by the Con-Dem government in Westminster.”
Cllr Mann said that it was not the first time that Labour had refused to become involved in discussions on issues vital to the authority.
He added: “At the last budget seminar Labour listened to a presentation and then refused to join workshops and ending up walking out. They’ve also refused to take the chairs of scrutiny committee. Their attitude is pathetic and shows they are only interested in trying to gain political advantage.”
The council is faced with having to make spending cuts of around £36m over the next few years.
The Plaid administration needs to consider their waste of Taxpayers money on schemes like the unneccessary Waste Transfer Station at Trehir and their unintelligent investment in the Icelandic Bank before they criticise the Labour Members for 'irresponibilty'.