County council embroiled in row over watchdog committee
Opposition councillors in fury after Reform party committee chairman hails work of 'Dolge' in finding savings
Tempers flared at a cross-party meeting at Kent County Council today after opposition parties accused the Reform party of interference in a report on identifying savings.
The clashes came in a debate on a report setting out the progress the council had made in the work to save money and the role played by the ‘Dolge’ unit - Kent County Council’s Department of Local Government Efficiency.
There was a row in which opposition parties accused the Reform party of talking up the progress it had made, with committee chairman Cllr Chris Hespe in the firing line.
He denied that he had sought to ‘talk up’ the work of ‘Dolge’ but faced a barrage of complaints that, as the chairman of a watchdog committee he was wrong to have done so.
“I don’t want to go into detail about particular savings now, that is not what this report is about,” said Cllr Chris Hespe (Reform).
Cllr Harry Raynor (Con) made a scornful attack on the Reform party’s progress.
“Is that all there is? After the razzamatazz of last year, after a visitation from on high, of the threats made to staff if they did not co-operate? Well, I call it pathetic.”
Replying, Reform Party cabinet member Brian Collins said that he was disappointed by the Green party councillor Mark Hood and Lib Dem councillor Antony Hook, who both sit on the committee.
Cllr Collins said: “We have already made savings and there will be more to come…it is a bit like turning round an oil tanker.”
Cllr Hood made a further jibe at the Conservatives reminding them of the financial legacy they had left while criticising the committee chairman.
Cllr Hespe was drawn into the row but said he had done nothing wrong and had consulted the authority’s lawyers to assess his position.
The Reform party has made bearing down on unnecessary spending a key objective in its budget plans. It is reflected in the creation of a dedicated cabinet role to ensure expenditure is kept as low as possible.