Labour pulls plug on partnership

10.27.22pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 22nd Jul 2007

The leadership of the Labour Group on Milton Keynes Council has walked out of the regular cross-party talks between all three political groups on the Council. These regular meetings of the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of all political groups were part of the agreement between all political parties when the Council became "no overall control" in May 2006. They have been chaired by the Council's Chief Executive.

Liberal Democrat Council Leader, Councillor Isobel McCall said: "I am disappointed that Labour has decided not to attend these meetings any more. The purpose of these regular meetings was to enable us all to work together in the interests of the people of Milton Keynes. Labour clearly isn't interested in doing that."

In the past year the meetings have discussed a variety of issues, including identifying the areas of agreement between all political parties on the growth of Milton Keynes, agreeing a process by which all three parties could influence the budget, and discussing the best way to handle difficult debates at full Council.

Isobel McCall continued: "As the meetings were supposed to bring all political parties round the table, it is pointless continuing them with one party missing. I am pleased that there is another forum for all parties to meet informally through their "business managers" (Councillors Tallack, Tunney and Miles) but this group is not a substitute for the Leaders meeting together."