Lib Dem Leader Calls for an End to LGR Fiasco

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Jul 2009

Paul Morse, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall has called the cancellation of Monday's special meeting of the Council to discuss LGR a clear indication of the chaos that is consuming the administration at County Hall.

"The decision is reflective of the utter confusion within the ruling party. It is clear that the infighting amongst the Conservatives at County Hall is jeopardizing the County Council. The fact that the Conservative party national chairman is dictating decisions for Norfolk County Council is extremely worrying. The Conservatives should never have got the County Council into this situation.

This motion if carried would have effectively seen the County Council disengaging from the whole unitary debate. It would have had disastrous consequences as it would have given the Secretary of State some justification for the "doughnut".

Across Norfolk, Councils have collectively spent well over £2m on this, much of it wasted on anti-unitary propaganda. It really frustrates me when you consider that this money could have been spent on providing better services in Norfolk.

It's another chapter in this farcical LGR process. Neither the Labour government, the Boundary Committee nor the local Conservatives can get their acts together on this. We need a definitive decision so we can move on and start to address the real priorities for Norfolk." said Paul Morse.