SENIOR Tories are calling for change amid claims some Colchester Council cabinet members appear to be “lazy or incompetent”.

Colchester Conservative group leader Dennis Willetts penned a message to mayor Gerard Oxford after a full council meeting earlier this month.

It came after members of his group said they were not given sufficient answers during a portfolio holders’ question session, particularly from Lib Dem waste boss Jessica Scott-Boutell.

Tories have also voiced concerns over fellow Lib Dem, leisure chief Annie Feltham’s answers to questions.

In his letter, Mr Willetts said: “While you are certainly correct portfolio holders are entitled to give a written reply, rather than answer questions orally, the option is being abused.

“While the leader of the council and some of his cabinet colleagues make a valiant effort to answer all questions of a general or strategic nature asked by the opposition at council meetings, this is not universally so amongst all cabinet members.

Gazette: Colchester Election..Annie Feltham, lib.

Defended - Annie Feltham 

“Portfolio holders are paid £12,000 a year from public funds [pro-rata for part-timers] on top of their basic allowance to be members of the cabinet and for that the council taxpayers of the borough rightfully expect every member of the cabinet to have sufficient grasp of their respective portfolios to competently answer most questions of a strategic nature posed by the opposition at question time.

“Might I respectfully request you encourage all portfolio holders to answer oral question and supplementary questions of a general or strategic nature at council meetings, rather than allowing some to give the impression of being lazy or incompetent by relying heavily on written answers from their officers.”

Paul Smith, leader of Colchester Council, responded: “The issue here is members of the opposition should be submitting questions in writing if they do want a detailed answer.

"The very idea of the written question is to make sure the person asking it is given as full a response as possible.

“They can still attempt to score points with their supplementary question.

Gazette:

'Knows her stuff' - Jessica Scott-Boutell

“Jessica is still new in her position and with the focus on her being the youngest ever cabinet member, it is understandable she wants to make sure her answers are correct.

“Speaking with Jessica, as I do, it is clear she knows her stuff.

“With university lecturer Annie, she is used to speaking with experts in education and is perhaps less inclined to engage in a heated debate across a council chamber.

“Some people who ask questions want detail, so using a written answer is the best way to provide that if there has been no prior notification.

“Some portfolio holders are more adept at answering questions in the moment while others do not want to give a wrong answer in public.”

Miss Scott-Boutell and Mrs Feltham were contacted directly for comment but did not reply.