CABINET MEMBER TO BE QUIZZED ON DELAY IN DELIVERING ON POST OFFICE DECISION

11.51.10am GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

Torbay Council Cabinet Member Councillor Kevin Carroll is to be quizzed at the Full Council meeting on Thursday on why it took 8 months to implement a decision by the Mayor to write to central government about supporting post offices.

At a Cabinet meeting on March 10th this year the Mayor made the decision to write to central government asking for all post offices to be able to offer a full range of services. Following a request from Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Steve Darling to see a copy of the letter and any replies that had been received from the Government, it transpired that the letter had not been sent. The letter was finally sent 7 months after the decision had been made.

Councillor Darling's written question to Councillor Carroll, the Cabinet Member for Governance, is:

"The Council took more than 8 months to implement a decision to write to central government on supporting post offices that the Mayor made at a Cabinet meeting. As the Cabinet Member for Governance, can you provide an explanation for this?"

Commenting on his question Councillor Darling said, "I was absolutely shocked to discover that a decision by Torbay's Elected Mayor had not been implemented. Hopefully Councillor Carroll, who is responsible for Governance, can provide an explanation. This incident raises questions about what other decisions the Mayor has made have not been implemented. I have instigated a Freedom of Information request about what other decisions may not have taken place since the Mayor was elected in 2005, but this has been refused."