Torries: Harrow Council twinning motion passed by Labour 'without discussion'
By Jack Royston
A TORY councillor has accused Labour of passing a motion on twinning with more towns and cities "without discussion".The pledge calls for the authority to explore the possibility of developing partnerships with more foreign cities and specifically mentions ten, including Hargeisa, in Somaliland.
It does not bind the council into twinning with more areas, and will still have to go before the cabinet committee when leading Labour councillors will have another opportunity to vote on it.
Councillor Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative Group, says any move to twin with other areas, beyond the current agreement with Douai, would be a waste of taxpayers money.
Yusuf Yusuf, of Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations (HASVO), has accused her of dismissing the proposals without proper discussion.
She said: "I'm afraid Mr. Yusuf has been misinformed. The Conservative group wanted to extend the council meeting to properly debate this motion, but we were voted down by Labour who passed it without discussion.
"At a time when sensible spending in local government is an absolute necessity, the Council simply cannot afford to expand its twinning operations as it costs money whether we visit these countries or not."
But Councillor Bill Stephenson, leader of the council, defended the way the motion was dealt with, saying the meeting had come to an end and there was no time for a debate.
He insisted twinning could be achieved without spending tax payers' money.
He said: "It's an idea and it so far hasn't been agreed. I'm pleased to hear that some groups are supportive of it.
"We don't want it to be a party political thing we want to be very open about local residents and whether they want to twin.
"Certainly the idea it's going to cost any money is not an issue because it won't.
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