Council fails to agree to independent inquiry (Norwich Liberal Democrats Online)

Norwich Liberal Democrats Online <info@norwichlibdems.org.uk>

Council fails to agree to independent inquiry

January 28, 2009 11:25 AM

City of Norwich Liberal Democrat attempts to force an independent inquiry into the Greyhound Opening housing scandal were frustrated last night by Labour and Conservative groups at City Hall.

The Lib Dems had moved a motion for the inquiry after saying there were still unanswered questions over how Norwich City Council officers came to be living in the homes in Greyhound Opening and Goldsmith Street and what Labour Executive Members knew about it.

The scandal erupted last year when it emerged that the council's former head of strategic housing and other council officers, moved into the properties, after pensioners had been moved out. Council Officers were then charged a reduced rent. The scandal was reported in the national press and the Labour run council has consistently failed to agree to a full independent investigation.

Moving the motion Brian Watkins, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, said: "Public trust has been shot to ribbons and cannot easily be restored. We have work to do to win back the trust of people and that is why a further investigation remains essential.

"It is a political failure. The Labour party are in charge now and they have overall responsibility for the failures which have been discovered" he added.

The Conservative Party moved an amendment to refer the motion to the council's Scrutiny Committee. That motion was carried by 18 votes for and 16 against, with Labour and the Conservatives voting for it and the Liberal Democrats and the Greens against.

Earlier in the meeting, Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich South, had presented a petition to the council calling for a full independent investigation into the affair.