Gun Boat Diplomacy

I was recently reminded of Lord Palmerston's maxim about Britain having no permanent allies, only permanent interests. It was a complete accident ( promise) that I ended up in front of the City Development Scrutiny Board of Leeds City Council recently along side Cllr Jane Dowson ( Lab, Chapel Allerton). As a Labour Councillor Jane is the enemy. However I couldn't help but reflect that we were both urbane, liberal, progressive politicians with remarkably similar and neighbouring wards in North Leeds. It also helped that we were both at Scrutiny to Moan about the same thing. How the Council Consults when it is disposing of redundant School buildings ( or indeed doesn't consult more often)

What prompted my attendance was the Former Royal Park Primary School Building in Hyde Park. Coun Dowson wanted to talk about Miles Hill Primary in Meanwood. We finally have a deal on Royal Park which has gone public on a private sector scheme with substantial community benefits included. I will blog about this seperately but at Scrutiny I was asking two broad categories of questions. Firstly did the ( very deprived) area around the School get the best deal possible from the Councils sale of the building? Specifically given the policy decision in 2003 to seek continued community use of the site? Secondly has the decision making process ( now four years long) and the way things have been handled diluted the community benefits on offer?

For non Council hacks a Scrutiny Board is a panel of Councillors who hold "watch Dog" functions and investigate Council policies and procedures. The most Obvious parallel would be a Parliamentary Select Committee like you see on TV.

For the record I though I had a very fair hearing from the Board and they have very graciously included an Inquiry into an already crowded work programme. My only quibble was that our presentation time was limited but Council Officers could speak at length. I would certainly have liked to rebut somethings I heard.My Lord Palmerston quote from the slightly arctic vibes I picked up from at least one of the Tory members of the Board. As a coalition ally should I really be turning up asking for scrutiny of my own administration? But then what is Scrutiny for? I certainly shouldn't be turning up in the company of Labour Councillors. But do I really have anything more in common Philosophically with a Tory than with Jane Dowson? My permanent interest is the area I represent and getting the best deal for it. My Allies, Jane Dowson or the Tories are temporary and the only way of judging them is if it serves my areas interests. Or At least that's the way it should be. But Tribalism in politics is another matter entirely.