"Dereliction of duty" from Tory leadership on Town Hall

Brentwood's Liberal Democrat group have hit out at Brentwood's Tory leadership after Brentwood Council Leader Louise McKinlay and Deputy Leader Roger Hirst's refused to accept an invitation to sit on the Borough's Cross Party Town Hall Delivery Group.

However, the Lib Dem opposition won a key vote with cross-party support that will force the Tory leadership to get behind keeping our Town Hall and take a front line role in the Town Hall Delivery Group. The Conservatives were split on the vote, with 14 voting against their leader's full involvement in the project.

During an evening of high drama at the Town Hall, Liberal Democrat leader Cllr David Kendall made strong representations that the future of the Town Hall Project, and the building, was being put at risk by a 'reckless Council leadership'.

Cllr David Kendall stated:

"Last night saw a real pantomime performance from the Council's leading members. Their refusal to actively engage with the challenge to keep the Town Hall as a seat of local Government in Brentwood, and to demonstrate to residents that this is a top priority seriously threatens the reputational risk of our town. This is not the time for the Tories to sit on the sidelines - we need to be united in our resolve to keep the Town Hall for Borough residents".

The Town Hall Delivery Group was set up to ensure that Brentwood Council delivered on the crucial vote last year to keep the Town Hall for community and civic use.

Liberal Democrats believe that the success of the project needs the clear commitment and support of the leadership as the Council seeks a commercial lease agreement with a third party.