A Central London council has been accused of trying to avoid detailed examination after it published a dozen notifications of impending decisions in the days leading up to Christmas.
Decisions Published as Holidays Began
Westminster City Council uploaded details of 12 forthcoming decisions to its website on December 22, a time when most residents and officials were beginning their festive holidays. Each item was listed with a decision date of January 2, the first working day of the new year.
The published list included significant proposals such as the proposed purchase of six new temporary accommodation properties in Lambeth and funding for design and implementation of public realm works in Queensway. A standard 'call-in' period, during which councillors can request further debate, applies to most of these decisions and runs until January 10.
Opposition Claims of Avoiding Scrutiny
Conservative opposition leader, Councillor Paul Swaddle, has strongly criticised the Labour-run administration's timing. He accused them of attempting to "rush through" the decisions during the festive break to avoid "proper scrutiny".
Cllr Swaddle linked the move to the recent uncovering of a £27 million loss related to the failed construction firm Geoffrey Osborne, stating the timing was "unsurprisingly 'same old Labour'". The council had continued to award contracts to Osborne despite internal warnings about its financial stability.
Council Defends Its Process
A spokesperson for Westminster City Council defended the process, stating the authority remains open through most of the Christmas and New Year period. They emphasised that as the decisions would not be implemented until the end of the week beginning January 2, "there is still time for members to raise questions".
The council also noted that due to the ongoing fallout from a November cyber attack, it is currently publishing decision details on a separate webpage from its normal portal.
Other key decisions listed for January 2 include:
- A procurement strategy for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) passenger transport.
- Funding for the next stage of the proposed Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus Public Realm Programme.
- Agreeing a management model for the Beethoven Community Centre, which the council is in the process of purchasing.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within local government over transparency and the timing of significant financial commitments, particularly during holiday periods when public engagement is traditionally lower.
