“The public needs reassuring that money is being spent fairly,” Conservatives say

Conservative leader Ashley Dearnley has written to the Chief Executive

The local Conservative party says that the public needs 'reassuring that money is being spent fairly'.

Party leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley has written to the Chief Executive regarding the “indicative highways proposals” mentioned by Council leader Allen Brett earlier this week.

Councillor Brett was recently recorded threatening to deprive an area of Rochdale of council money if Labour does not retain the seat at the forthcoming local election.

In the audio clip, understood to have been recorded at a local Labour Party meeting, Councillor Brett is explaining that £12million is to be spent on the borough’s roads and footpaths.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118035/council-leader-accused-of-breaking-the-code-of-conduct-for-councillors

Councillor Dearnley said: “I have written to the Chief Executive, demanding that all indicative highways proposals are copied to all members of the council as a matter of urgency, to reassure the public that money is being spent fairly, not on a political whim.

“I’d like to reiterate that Councillor BrettB who is an old socialist, that the money he chooses to spend is not his. We have no money; it is public money and it is absolutely right the public be assured this is being spent on what is required.

“I hope this will reassure the public, by bringing this to all 60 councillors, that highways money is spend on a needs basis, not political priority basis.”

The comments by the leader of the council were branded as ‘a serious threat to democracy’ by the Conservative leader.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118056/council-leaders-comments-are-serious-threat-to-democracy-says-councillor-dearnley

When asked to comment before knowing he had been recorded, the council leader said: “No it is not true and I do not respond to rumours.”

When asked if he wanted to change his position in light of the recording, Councillor Brett did not respond.