The Conservative Group has criticised what it calls a culture of secrecy at Bolton Council after its leader was removed as the chair of a crucial committee. Cllr Martyn Cox was removed as the chair of the audit committee and was replaced by Cllr David Grant, of Horwich and Blackrod First, at this week's AGM . A Conservative Group statement said it is convention for the role to be the responsibility of the leader of the opposition.
The group has more than twice the councillors of Horwich and Blackrod First in the council chamber. It said Cllr Cox's removal was because he brought the investigation into how almost £1m from council coffers could not be accounted for to the attention of the public last year . ALSO READ: 'Adopted Boltonian' Andrew Morgan becomes Mayor of Bolton .
The Conservative Group statement reads: "To fail to report the facts of this to elected members, let alone to the public, [...
] adds to the impression that the institutions of British Government have become wedded to a culture of secrecy without parallel in the democratic world. "The elected members are there to serve the public, they have a right to know when things go wrong, and for people in positions of power to be held accountable. Removing elected members from positions of scrutiny when things go wrong sends the wrong message to the public.
" The police GMP's Economic Crime Unit launched an investigation last April. The Bolton News was not able to break the news until six months later. Nick Peel, the.
