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*smiles at Cic* Sound advice Cic.
The strategy agreed by the group is the same strategy we have followed for the past two years. It amounts to a form of power sharing with the largest party. It is described by our group as a one day deal at the council's annual meeting in which we support the largest party to take all the cabinet posts (it's a hung council, no overall control). In exchange our group are supported by them to take all scrutiny chairs.
The argument for is one of effective opposition through the scrutiny system....the argument against is that we, the smallest party, and they, the largest party, have carved up all the most powerful or useful positions in the council, excluding the second largest party.
The largest party in our council is our historic enemy, the conservative party. To say it sticks in my craw to vote them onto anything is an understatement. I was convinced to do it, for my first two years as councillor. Now, I realise that the opportunities for effective opposition that come with those roles are not great enough, not plentiful enough, to warrant supporting a conservative cabinet.
On the doors, I have had people tell me there's no point in voting labour, they just give it to the conservatives.
Amongst party comrades, I have come across very few who support this strategy. When I thought it was the best way of representing our constituents' best interests, I defended the strategy to those members. I am no longer convinced.
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