Mid-Devon Lib Dem Concerns Over Anti-Social Behaviour Ignored

2.22.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2008

A move by the Liberal Democrats at a meeting of Mid Devon District Council to publicly recognise concerns over Anti Social Behaviour, was heavily defeated.

Yeo ward Lib Dem, Philip Bourne proposed that the Council's Anti Social Behaviour Policy should include a statement that: "The Council acknowledges that there is concern about the speed of response to Anti Social Behaviour and the effectiveness of partnership working' and should record the fact that the Council's Scrutiny Committee is currently considering this and their recommendations may lead to the need to review the policy later in 2008."

Cllr Bourne said that many councillors knew directly of the difficulties in resolving anti social behaviour issues in a short time scale. He said: "The Community well-Being Policy Development Group addressed this quality of life issue for our residents and recommended that the document should acknowledge this. The Executive took this on board but the document has not been amended."

The Leader of the Lib Dem Opposition and Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Cllr David Nation (Lawrence ward, Crediton) urged the Council to accept Cllr Bourne's proposal. He said: "It is important that the public can see that our new Executive and Scrutiny structure deals openly with issues they raise. There is also an expectation that the Executive accept recommendations made by the Policy Development Groups." However, only one Independent councillor supported the Lib Dems and the proposal was defeated by 23 votes to 10.

Cllr Nation then asked the Council why they were terrified that the public would read that the speed and effectiveness of response was being examined. He said: "We know this is an issue for the public and we should not pretend otherwise in our Policy statements."