War of words breaks out on city council over scrutiny block

A ROW between Nottingham City Council's ruling Labour group and a band of defectors has deepened after some members were kicked off a key decision-making committee for the first time in over a decade.

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

The formation of the new Nottingham People's Alliance (NPA) was announced in October.

Councillors Kirsty Jones, Imran Jalil, Anwar Khan, Naim Saqab Salim and Faith Gakanje-Ajala all quit Labour then, while the group's sixth member, AJ Matsiko, joined the new party after resigning from Labour in April.

Following their defections, the council's leadership reneged on a longstanding agreement allowing opposition members to sit on Executive Board meetings, during which key decisions are rubber-stamped by councillors.

The move was criticised by the new lead opposition group, and a smaller group of opposition councillors known as the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group.

Councillor Andrew Rule, of the Nottingham Independents and the Independent group, said the agreement helped provide an additional level of scrutiny before key decisions were made.