Michael McCarthy (Labour)

My party also opposes this section, my views on which are well known. I have a fundamental difficulty with any move that would lead to the denigration of the role of the councillor. That role is already restricted and limited enough and that is the view of many councillors across the political divide throughout the country. It is one of the perennial issues which councillors raise.

Councillors go to the county manager and advise the manager so that he will make a favourable decision. That is the executive function being exercised. I am not suggesting that managers are not making decisions based on what they perceive to be the wisest choice. This is an issue of critical significance to councillors. The proposal to transform the imposition of a waste collection charge from a reserved function to an executive function is a retrograde step.