A row over the future of a local community committee in Leeds continues to rumble on.
Eartlier this month council chiefs shelved plans to alter the boundary of a local area committee after an outcry and claims of 'gerrymandering' from opposition councillors.
The council had proposed to move Weetwood Ward from the Inner North West Area committee to the Outer North West Area committee.
Residents and councillors used the most recent Inner North West area committee meeting inn Headingley to reiterate the committee's wishes to include Weetwood.
A motion was tabled by Headingley Liberal Democrat Jamie Matthews stating the committee opposes any change to its current membership and Weetwood is retained as one of the wards in the area committee.
During the meeting's open forum, residents expressed their concern at the attempts of the council to force the change through. The motion gained the support of all the local Liberal Democrat councillors and as a result was passed by the area committee, despite all Labour members either abstaining or voting against the motion.
Weetwood Liberal Democrat Sue Bentley told the meeting that Weetwood had much in common with Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall, such as issues with student houses in multiple occupation.
Speaking of the debate, Headingley Liberal Democrat James Monaghan said:
"It was vital to send a clear message that we support local residents in their opposition to such a heavy handed move.
"Most, but sadly not all, local members recognised the good work of the area committee and the damage that would have been done by breaking up Inner North West.
"We have a proud history of local engagement in the area and we will oppose any future attempts to break up the area committee."
Weetwood Liberal Democrat Ben Chastney, chairman of Inner North West area committee, added:
"Not one positive reason for change was made during the debate. I was disappointed that the resolution did not gain full party support."
The meeting was attended by Labour councillors Bernard Atha, Lucinda Yeadon, John Illingworth and Gerry Harper.
Earlier this month Labour's Peter Gruen acknowledged that there needed to be better consultation but said that the statistics showed that Weetwood ward had more in common with the more rural wards of the outer north west.
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