At the full meeting of the Council on Thursday 3^rd December two very important notices of motion were voted down without any discussion. The meeting had lasted 3 hours as there had been a number of lengthy discussions mainly around how the full Council meeting was run. That discussion resulted in Labour, Conservative, Progressive and ‘Real’ Independents voting against discussing cabinet minutes at the meetings, recording and broadcasting meetings, allowing members of the public to ask questions and the introduction of Leader and Cabinet Members question time. 

Once 6pm arrived the solicitor to the Council ruled that the guillotine applied and that all further business be voted upon without discussion. The first notice of motion was about supporting Conservative and Liberal Democrat policy of scrapping the Standards Board. Cllr Jane Branley, the mover of the motion said, ‘This body is effectively a secret organisation which does not allow complaints against councillors to be heard in public or to allow councillors accused of wrong doing to call witnesses in their defence.’ Cllr Khan added, ‘Thousands of pounds of council tax payers’ money is being spent on investigating trivial complaints. Complaints against me and Cllr Branley have even been referred to the national Board and two officers are making a series of trips up here to interview us behind closed doors.’ 

Strangely enough Cllr Potts, Conservative left the meeting before this item discussing his party’s policy was even reached. His colleague Cllr Milburn then voted against his own party’s policy. Cllr Waddle commented, ‘It was bizarre in the extreme but I can only assume they were toeing the Labour Party line which is what they do in every Council meeting.’ 

The second notice of motion was about the scrapping of the Community Laundry. Cllr Jane Branley again took the lead and stated, ‘I was very alarmed to see every councillor except the Independent Alliance vote against this resolution. It effectively means that they do not care that 700 frail elderly and disabled people will not get a service which helps them stay at home independently.’ This attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our community was also deplored by Cllr Geraldine White. ‘It is appalling that the majority of councillors do not care about helping these people who could lose this valuable service.’ 

It will not be possible for these two issues to be discussed again for over 6 months. ‘The rules of the Council are an ass,’ exclaimed Cllr Hodgson, ‘but they are also being used to make sure that the important issues the Independent Alliance are trying to raise are stifled.’

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