Mondays Questions and Answer in the Commons:
Guy Opperman [Hexham]
"Not only has Labour-run Northumberland county council not frozen its council tax; it has cancelled its monthly full council meeting on the premise of saving money. We know that it is to avoid protest about the teenage transport tax and the lack of a local plan. Does the Secretary of State agree that democracy, debate and scrutiny are key pillars of a council that should not be scrapped?"
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 June 2014, c596)
Eric Pickles (The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government; Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)
"I think those Labour councillors will find that they can run but cannot hide from the electorate. Part of the process of being a local councillor is being accountable to the electorate. They should just stop hiding and face the facts."
