Cut backs in the Council’s democratic mechanisms have been characterised as a “retreat to the Guildhall” by Liberal Democrat Councillors. At the Council AGM the new Conservative administration tabled a last-minute motion which included:

• Fewer public Council and Executive meetings per year – this means less public participation.
• A reduction in the number of Overview and Scrutiny Panels reviewing decisions made by the Executive members.
• Scrapping the Student Liaison Committee, the separate planning committees for Bath and North East Somerset and the pilot Bath South Area Committee, again, this means far fewer opportunities for residents to have their say.

Liberal Democrat members tabled an amendment intended to increase the fairness of Overview and Scrutiny processes by giving the Chairs to opposition parties, but this was defeated by the Conservatives.

Councillor Nathan Hartley (Peasedown, Lib Dem) said:

“These changes to the way the Council are anti-democratic, reduce transparency, and will alienate people from the democratic process. I am extremely concerned that this was one of the first actions of the new Conservative administration – what can we expect in the future?

“The loss of the Student Liaison Committee – which worked with the Bath Universities and the Norton Radstock College – is a particular blow. It is very disappointing to say the least that the Conservatives are not able to see the value of the Student Liaison Committee as a means of integrating students into the community and improving communication between the local residents and students.”

The Tories also faced criticism for misleading press statements in the run up to the AGM. Councillor Sarah Bevan (Peasedown, Lib Dem) said:

"We were concerned to see a press report last week reporting that the Conservative Leader had said 'the Liberal Democrats and Labour had been unwilling to form a coalition'.

"In fact, the Conservative group did not make any contact with the Liberal Democrats and made their decisions behind closed doors. I believe good governance requires integrity and honesty from the ruling administration – the Conservative administration has already shown itself to be lacking in these qualities. 'So much for democracy’ is what the verdict of local people will be.”