Reform accused of 'silencing' opposition voices

The new Reform UK administration in Calderdale has been accused of trying to "silence" opposing voices.

At the first full council meeting since the historic local elections in May, the ruling Reform group voted in favour of reducing the number of scrutiny panels from four down to one.

Labour and the Green Party said it would "reduce transparency" and was a way to "silence dissenting points of view".

New Reform council leader Dan Sutherland said that wasn't the case and it would "strengthen accountability" - pointing to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has reduced its scrutiny panels down to one.

Calderdale Council had four boards: Adult Health & Social Care; Children and Young People; Place; and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

These committees acted as a "check and balance" on the decisions made by the ruling cabinet and senior management of the local authority.

They were designed to look in detail at issues and services and scrutinise decisions once they were made. Councillors sitting on these committees could also suggest how to improve things.

In the council's first Annual General Meeting, Reform abolished three of them, meaning only the Overview and Scrutiny Committee remains.

In explaining the decision, Sutherland said: "Our move is in line with what's happening at the West Yorkshire Combine Authority led by Labour mayor Tracey Brabin.

"Now over the years I've been a councillor, I've found that scrutiny is ineffective, and particularly in the last two years, we've had quite a lot of issues, such as the Shay stadium, the Sowerby Bridge incinerator and the relationship with the Piece Hall, where there has been an absolute veil of secrecy that has blocked the public from seeing the truth.

"We need to change that, so we're going to focus on action, we're going to focus on detailed reviews, we're going to focus on a totally different approach to the talking shop we've had before."

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority said its own decision was taken in March 2024 following a recommendation from the then-Conservative government about a new scrutiny protocol for mayoral authorities.

They added that it was necessary in order to secure further devolution, but a full review and consultation was carried out before the decision was made.

Opposition councillors in Calderdale have criticised Reform's move and claimed the new leadership is trying to "avoid scrutiny".

Labour form the main opposition group and said the decision would "weaken the mechanisms designed to hold decision-makers accountable and ensure transparency".

Labour also said the Reform-led council "broke further with convention" by awarding every chair position across council boards and committees to its own councillors.

They also removed the long-serving independent chair of the Standards Committee, Canon Hilary Barber.

Labour added that while they accepted Reform were entitled to make changes as the new administration in Calderdale, they were concerned that the party had "weakened democratic oversight, and closed down opportunities for accountability".

It is a sentiment shared by fellow opposition party the Green group, who described the decision as "mind-blowing".

Green Party leader Martin Hey said: "This is clearly an attempt to consolidate power in the hands of a few, in order to silence dissenting points of view and stand in the way of scrutiny of their decisions.

"Ensuring that our money is spent well and that the people and places we love are protected is not a pointless committee, it is taking the time to take care of all that we hold dear.

"Reform is sending a very clear message that no other opinions are allowed."

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