Shock council shake-up plans met with outrage

SHOCK proposals for a major shake-up of how a city council works have been branded a potential “death knell for democracy in Newcastle”.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Councillors have been left seething at the prospect of big changes at Newcastle Civic Centre, which it is feared could stifle debate and shrink accountability in the city's corridors of power.

An independent review has recommended reforms that include banning opposition party councillors from asking questions at cabinet meetings, where Newcastle City Council's political leadership makes major decisions.

It also suggests slashing the number of scrutiny hearings held and scrapping committees devoted to investigating the council's finances and climate change commitments.

The Labour-run council has insisted that the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) review, which was shared with councillors on Tuesday, presents “impartial” advice that will not necessarily be implemented.

But opposition members have aired serious misgivings about its findings - particularly at a time when local councils across the country are facing a budget crisis that has seen some go bankrupt.

In addition, Newcastle's leadership continues to face major questions over controversies like the collapse of parks charity Urban Green, a £40 million debt which led the council to seize ownership of a four-star hotel, and whether the city can meet its aim to reach net zero emissions by 2030.