Labour support Tories' new panels

The Conservative administration has created two extra panels on Brentwood council - with additional chair & vice-chair expenses totalling £12,448 of tax payers' money alone annually - plus additional costs of running a committee, such as staff overtime, which have not been released.

All Lib Dem councillors at the meeting voted against this move.

Cllr David Kendall said:

"Although we are happy to support the creation of an Asset Management Panel to manage the council's buildings and other stock, we do not support the splitting of the Housing & Environment briefs into two separate committees as we feel this could continue as is, especially as the meetings are quarterly and usually concluded in two hours, as opposed to meetings like the combined Planning & Licensing Committe that are monthly and frequently last between 3 - 4 hours."

The lone Labour councillor voted WITH the administration, supporting all changes proposed by the Tories.