Open Letter to Leader of the Opposition Group on Somerset County Council

Written by Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset County Council on Wed 9th Apr 2008

I am extremely disappointed in the Conservative Group's decision to back their Bridgwater MP in his criticism of the South West One partnership. Having attended very few of the scrutiny committee meetings at which this was discussed, their sudden interest comes as a complete surprise to me. Clearly, the MP is taking the lead with these attacks and they are simply following.

Ken Maddock and his team are in the right place - stuck in opposition - but what is wrong is that they are willing to play politics with the public purse, disregarding what impact that has on the economy of their communities. Playing politics to damage the council and its reputation is indefensible. Playing politics with council officers, allowing them to be maligned and subjected to abuse and bullying and not coming to their defence, is inexcusable.

Somerset County Council, under the Liberal Democrats, is externally assessed as one of the best councils in the whole of England. Could it be that the Conservatives are jealous of this?