Conservative Slackers Miss Important Council Meeting

PRESS RELEASE

At the Special Meeting of Southend Borough Council’s People Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 6th April, the local Conservatives showed how little they cared about healthcare provision in Southend-on-Sea.

 

Of their eight members who are on the Scrutiny Committee, only four Tories turned up. No substitutes were arranged.

This Special Meeting was called to discuss the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Plan and Success Regime.

The STP is what will drive the proposed changes to healthcare provision in the borough, including the downgrading of accident and emergency services.

"How important is the health service to the local Tories?" asked Labour Councillor Julian Ware-Lane. "Judging by their failure to attend it is very low on their list of priorities. Yet there are real challenges in the near future".

"It is very disappointing" added Julian.

The absent Conservative Councillors were Cllrs Arscott, Butler, D. Garston and Habermel. The four who attended were: Cllrs Boyd, Buckley, Phillips, and Walker. Cllr Salter, as Portfolio Holder, also attended.

Labour has three members on the committee, all of whom were present (Cllrs Borton, Jones, and Nevin).  Cllrs McDonald and Ware-Lane were also present