This really is utter nonsense and Barry Q and Leverne P need to reverse this ruling.
Cllrs Blakeman and Atkinson are right to ask for the written advice given to the Mayor and question the purpose of this gagging.
Cllrs Blakeman and Atkinson are right to ask for the written advice given to the Mayor and question the purpose of this gagging.
Dear Councillors
I understand that you are receiving queries about the reasons for the cancellation of public speaking at the next Council meeting.
As you know we are currently in the pre-election period which is described as a period of heightened sensitivity and during which we have to be particularly careful that Council resources are not used or seen to be used for party political purposes.
The Council meeting on 4 December falls within this period and Barry’s and my advice to the Mayor was that the public speaking element of the Full Council meeting on 4 December should be cancelled on this occasion. We took the following matters into consideration;
- The members of the public wishing to speak at a Council meeting have the right to raise whatever issues they like. We do not and should not try to control what they want to say;
- It is quite possible that those who speak will raise issues which are politically sensitive in the run up to the election;
- Officers and Council resources (including the cost of DemSoc) cannot be used to facilitate such discussions in this period of heightened sensitivity; and
- Before coming to a decision we sought the advice of DemSoc who support the cancellation
Notification of the cancellation was posted on our website on Wednesday so that the public had plenty of notice. The next opportunity for the public to speak at a meeting of the full Council will be on 22nd January 2020 and registration for this will open online on 8 January.
Regards
LeVerne
Subject: Re: Council meeting on 4 December 2019 -Public Speaking
"There is no logic at all in banning the participation of residents in the December Council meeting for fear that they will transgress ‘ purdah’ whilst allowing the council meeting itself to go ahead.
After all elected councillors are far more likely to seek political advantage of a council meeting during an election period than are ‘civilian residents'.
I fear that the reality is that the council leadership fears exposure to public criticism and is simply frit .
Was the advice given to the Mayor put in writing?
If so may l see it please.
Residents have every right to be furious at being gagged in this cowardly and illogical way".
After all elected councillors are far more likely to seek political advantage of a council meeting during an election period than are ‘civilian residents'.
I fear that the reality is that the council leadership fears exposure to public criticism and is simply frit .
Was the advice given to the Mayor put in writing?
If so may l see it please.
Residents have every right to be furious at being gagged in this cowardly and illogical way".
Cllr. Robert Atkinson
Dear Mrs Parker
I received a copy of Our Borough through my letterbox this morning, despite us supposed to be in pre-election "purdah".
Can you please explain why residents are not permitted to raise urgent important issues, such as the proposed closure of the Pembridge Palliative Care Unit, at the next Council meeting, but the Council is permitted to send out its new newsletter?
This issue promotes work undertaken by the Council and contains a significant feature about former councillor Marianne Alapini, which could also be deemed to be 'Political', given her previous role.
Cllr Judith Blakeman
The publication "Our Borough" is political. In essence, the Council uses public money to produce "Our Borough" ostensibly to inform the Council Tax payer about matters of interest whereas in reality its latent function is to make the case that the Council, a Tory Council, is doing good work. Distributing 'our Borough" during a General Election Campaign does not do the Tory candidate any harm.
ReplyDeleteParker's letter is humbug. Tories running scared. Conservative MP candidate is pro Brexit in a violently ant Brexit constituency. Tory Clltr Palmer even campaigns for the Brexit Party.
ReplyDeleteSilly Leader Cllr dizzy Campbell is abusing her power
This Council makes up the rules as it goes along. Always has, always will.
ReplyDeleteAnon 21:15: Right on dear. This woman is well known to flow with wind - making rules on the hoof - to suit whatever situation she and dear Quirky Quirk find themselves. You must remember that Quirk was parachuted in by ghastly May, just after Grenfell. SO it is nothing new for these crappy rules to be made
ReplyDeleteAnon at 21.15 here. I know what they are like.
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