Ask The Cabinet

WIGAN voters are to be given the chance to quiz their political leaders online.

The ruling cabinet is Wigan Council’s top policy-making body, making decisions every month on millions of pounds of public spending.
It consists of 10 senior councillors who are each “champions” for a major area of responsibility (known as their portfolio) such as children, older people or the environment.
Now its members – including leader Lord Smith and deputy Coun Dave Molyneux – are just the click of a mouse away.
The idea for the Ask the Cabinet website came from Coun Chris Ready, cabinet member for improvement.
He said: “We need to be more open and accessible to people. We are accountable for millions of pounds of public money and services and this new website gives people the chance to ask us questions about what we do and why we have taken decisions.
“People will be able to ask a general question about our policies or ask us to justify a particular course of action and we will give them an answer. We hope this is a good way to encourage more interest in the workings of the council.
Anyone using the site will see a description of which services each council member is responsible for, along with a photo of the councillor.
They can submit their question online and it will appear on the website along with the cabinet member’s reply.
To ask a question of the cabinet, visit www.wigan.gov.uk/askthecabinet