WHITBY ON THE ATTACK OVER CAR USE

19-05-2007

Birmingham Council leader Mike Whitby faces a double challenge over the coming days following allegations that he’s trying to take over the Lord Mayor’s role - and misusing his official car.

A controversial resolution tabled for next Tuesday’s council meeting and backed by the Cabinet suggests changing the city’s constitution, so that “the Lord Mayor must not be seen so as to be taking a lead or civic role in matters that are the lawful domain of the leader of the council or any other member of the cabinet.”

Or as critics would have it - “Butt out, your worship and leave the glad-handing to me”.

One former Lord Mayor Mike Nangle said that Whitby was “totally out of order” with this suggestion.

Nangle continued: “It’s a load of rubbish. The current leader has got carried away. There’s a charter for the Lord Mayor given by the Queen and that has to stand - and it says that he’s the one who meets the dignitaries.”

As if that wasn’t bad enough, The Stirrer’s been hearing whispers and innuendo for weeks about Whitby’s use of his official council car.

There’ve been suggestions that he’s been using it to go to the office of his company Skeldings in Warley, and even to go shopping at Netto in Harborne.

When The Stirrer contacted Whitby yesterday, he came out fighting on both fronts and strongly denied any wrongdoing.

On the car issue, he said: "Any allegations are completely erroneous. Leading a City Council in a city of a million people, with a budget of £3.4 billion is a massive undertaking, and I use the car made available to me to fulfil my duties in the most efficient way possible.

“In doing so, I am simply adhering to the custom and practice established by my predecessors, and permitted by the Council. The difference is that my administration is delivering vale for money, low Council Tax, and a cleaner, greener and safer City. Perhaps that is why the opposition are so demoralised and have to resort to these scurrilous attacks?"

A close friend added that Whitby had stopped off at Netto - but only on his way home after spending his Saturday at an official function at the NIA. It was also explained that the council leader has his ward offices at his company HQ - hence the 200 or so recorded trips to Skeldings.

As for the allegation that he's trying to take over the mayor’s role, the friend said: “It’s just political bleating. When dignitaries come from abroad they want to meet the person who makes the decisions, not just someone who’s wearing a lot of jewellery”.

Do the attacks on Whitby indicate desperation on the part of the opposition? Or have they hit the bullseye? Leave a comment on the Message Board.