Labour accuse Liberal Democrats of using asbestos report as a ‘political football’
AN inquiry into asbestos found at a Wear Valley leisure centre has been “disgracefully” used as a “cheap, political football” according to Labour councillors.A 39-page document investigating the management of the toxic materials found at Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre was published this week, but councillors were more concerned with the way it may have been used to score political points in the run-up to the elections.
The asbestos was discovered in the plant room in 2001, but it was only five years later staff at the centre were informed of its existence after two workmen blew the whistle. The council was fined £18,000 for the incident and the inquiry was set-up to investigate how it happened.
At a full council meeting on Thursday, councillors accepted the report which blamed the incident on “endemic failures in the authority as a whole,” but made no comment on the report itself instead criticising each other for the way in which it was handled.
Cllr Neil Stonehouse, Labour group leader and former leader of the council said: “This report is very important at returning public confidence in this authority. “It does not make pretty reading and it is quite clear there were serious operational failings, but the public can rest assured that the current system is sound and can be confident that we have taken appropriate steps to ensure this never happens again.
“It has however, been made into a much bigger issue and it is a great shame the way the report has been shamelessly used to blacken Labour’s name.” Cllr Stonehouse slammed the Liberal Democrat councillors for publicising “fallacious and deceitful lies” that the report had been deliberately delayed by Labour, saying: “It is not acceptable behaviour and is entirely regrettable.
“It is disgraceful that this report has been used as a political football to suit political ends.” In April, six Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors demanded a public meeting to “consider the implications arising out of the unwarranted, unreasonable and unacceptable delays” in the publication of inquiry results.
The meeting was cancelled by council officers before the election over fears it could be used for political gain, and the request has now been withdrawn. A vote of no confidence in the former leader Neil Stonehouse and his deputy Charlie Kay which had been made after Lib Dem councillors complained they had not been informed the council was being taken to court was also withdrawn.
Lib Dem group leader Tommy Taylor said: “This whole argument started about the ungentlemanly conduct of the leader and his deputy by not informing us of the court case before it happened.
“There was nothing stopping them coming to our group meeting the night before they were in court to tell us but nothing is precisely what they did do.” Defending Cllr Stonehouse, Cllr Kay said: “Cllr Stonehouse apologised for not being able to go that meeting for personal reasons and I was unable to be there as I was in St Tropez having my photo taken with Liam Gallacher.
“Cllr Taylor may think I am a God but I am unable to be in two places at once. “It is absolutely disgusting the way things have been leaked to the press, and it is only now the Lib Dem’s realise there is no further mileage in having a meeting to discuss the delay that they have withdrawn their request.”
Cllr Kay also challenged the chairman of the inquiry, Peter Kemp, to confirm or deny whether any Labour members of the panel had deliberately delayed the report coming out before the elections.
Mr Kemp said: “I was not aware of any intentional delays from any individuals on the panel. We met as individuals and I wasn’t even aware of people’s political partys. “We had hoped to have this report completed in March but several factors have led to it taking longer than expected, mainly in allowing witnesses to present their evidence in a way that suited them.
“We have also had to wait while we submitted the current management structure for audit so the public can be assured the system has improved. “We have also sought legal advice to make sure we are seen to be fair and open and that we won’t be open for any legal challenge.”
Cllr David Kingston also expressed his anger that false information had been leaked saying he knew about the asbestos. Cllr Kingston said: “Someone seems to think giving false information to the press is appropriate, but making false accusations about someone is not a good job.
“I have never played fast and loose with someone’s reputation for political gain and it is shameful that someone has done that to me.”
