ALLEGATIONS a revolution in the enforcement of standards in local government has led to limitations on councillors' free speech are to be considered.
Next week, members of the council's Standards Committee will discuss a document entitled A Question of Standards - Prescott's Town Hall Madness, which attacks a local government code of conduct laid down by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, pictured.
In the report, authors Owen Patterson and Gerald Howarth, both MPs, claim the code creates a 'climate of fear' in town halls and council chambers.
They claim the ability to represent the people has been damaged by the code and relationships between councillors and council officers have been 'poisoned'.
It also suggests councillors are being monitored by over-paid officials and local democracy is being undermined.
Describing the regime as 'bizarre' and 'highly damaging' the authors say:'John Prescott's powers to bully and cajole local government from the centre have been wholly malign and thankfully, now he has departed, we have an opportunity to re-energise local democracy.'
Defensive responses by the Local Government Standards Board will also be considered.
It rejects claims the code has created a climate of fear, stating polls show support for it.
The discussion will take place on November 1.
