A TORY proposal for an invest-to-save scheme to speed up pothole repairs in North East Lincolnshire was rejected by Labour councillors – who voted to seek extra funding from the Government instead.
Councillor Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham) put forward the motion at this week's full council meeting, saying that although such a scheme would cost more initially, it would save the authority money in the long term.
However, the ruling Labour group claimed that the quality of repairs had improved since the council's partnership with Balfour Beatty began in 2010, and that compensation paid out for pothole damage to vehicles had fallen from more than £4,568 in 2010/11 to just £1,357 in 2012/13.
It also accused the Conservatives of getting their priorities wrong, and of hypocrisy for proposing the use of reserves to pay for pothole repairs.
Councillor Jackson said he was not sure the council was meeting its legal duty to maintain safe highways, adding that some of the repairs being carried out were of a poor quality, resulting in repaired potholes quickly re-emerging.
Council leader Chris Shaw (Lab, Sidney Sussex) accused Councillor Jackson of saying officers were "doing a shoddy job", which he described as "despicable."
He put forward an amendment to the motion which removed the proposed invest-to-save scheme and suggested writing to the Department For Transport instead.
He said: "Our money is being cut by central government so going back to the secretary of state is the sensible thing to do."
Councillor Peter Wheatley (Lab, Yarborough), the portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, described the council's record on pothole repairs as a "success story" – prompting accusations of "complacency" from Councillor Jackson.
Councillor Ros James (Lab, Heneage) said that the council had more "pressing priorities" than repairing potholes, such as supporting the vulnerable and creating jobs.
ON THE WEB: Should the council spend more on pothole repairs? Have your say at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
'THEY HAVE JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON AND FALLEN OFF' THE ruling Labour group was accused of "heavy politics" after amending the Conservative motion on potholes. Conservative group leader Keith Brookes said: "I would hope that for the sake of the residents of North East Lincolnshire we can deal with this without bringing heavy politics into it." Liberal Democrat group leader Andrew De Freitas said: "Stop having these silly little amendments. It's being a little infantile to say the least." But council leader Chris Shaw hit back by claiming the Tory motion was an opportunistic "political move". He said: "They have jumped on a bandwagon, hit a pothole and fallen off." The amended motion was passed by 26 votes to 12, with all Labour and UKIP members voting in favour, and the Conservatives and Lib Dems voting against.