THE Liberal Democrat administration of Mid Devon District Council has been criticised for “marking its own homework” by chairing a committee tasked with scrutinising the council.

The comments came as the Lib Dems voted in one of their own to chair the local authority’s scrutiny committee, whose task includes holding the ruling cabinet to account, examining decisions and evaluating performance.

Councillor Polly Colthorpe (Conservative, Way) criticised the move by the ruling Lib Dems to nominate their member, Councillor Lance Kennedy (Tiverton Cranmore) as chair of the scrutiny committee.

“I don’t have another nomination but I would like to make the point that for the last two years, the Lib Dems have been putting forward, and electing, other Lib Dems as chair of scrutiny,” she said.

“Normal practice is that when there are members of other parties, that one of them should be the chair of scrutiny, simply because it looks like you are marking your own homework if you are doing it for your own side.”

She added she did not think that having a Lib Dem overseeing the scrutiny committee “does yourselves or the council any favours”.

But Councillor Alex White (Liberal Democrat, Upper Yeo and Taw) said as the largest group, the Lib Dems had a “clear mandate” which demonstrated residents believed it could provide adequate scrutiny.

“We believe we have the individuals with the strongest grasp of policy, governance and budget scrutiny within the council, and scrutiny is not a ceremonial role, but one that requires deep understanding, rigour, and impartiality, and I am entirely confident Cllr Kennedy has the expertise and will be an excellent appointee,” he said.

“There could be point-scoring if a smaller group took the role, and scrutiny is about constructive improvement, and not opposition for opposition’s sake, albeit all inputs are welcome.”

The Lib Dems have 35 councillors on the council, with the Conservatives and Greens both holding three seats, and one independent.

Cllr Kennedy, who was voted in as chair of scrutiny for a second year, said he would “certainly take on board” the comments from Cllr Colthorpe.

“I spent nearly 30 years in the police service where my personal integrity and impartiality were absolutely essential to do the job, and I have had 20-plus years in politics, and always maintained the same principles,” he said.

“My personal integrity overrides any politics, and scrutiny will be exactly that, without fear or favour, and I ask members to leave politics at the door when they come to a scrutiny meeting.”