Restrictions on public speaking and questions at B&NES Council have been adopted as part of a recent package of Constitutional amendments proposed by the Conservative administration.
Image courtesy of B&NES Council
Liberal Democrats had proposed that these elements should be dropped but, after a heated debate between Councillors, the Lib Dem amendment was rejected and the package was approved, by Conservative and Labour Councillors voting together.
Lib Dem Group Leader, Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown), commented: “This is a disappointing decision. Conservative and Labour councillors chose to focus on discussions within the working group – discussions that were needed in order to have something to put before Council – and by doing so failed to address the real issue.
“Fewer members of the public will now be permitted to speak at Council meetings, fewer questions will be allowed and there will be an open-ended time limit on answers to these questions.”
“It cannot be a coincidence that the working group was asked to consider limiting the amount for public speaking so soon after the unprecedented November 2015 Council meeting, at which 80 residents spoke and 242 questions were put regarding a proposed park and ride on the East of Bath.”
Councillor Rob Appleyard (Lib Dem, Lambridge) added: “If the Conservative and Labour groups are hell bent on restricting public access at Council meetings, then they must come up with a suitable alternative that allow real concerns over contentious issues to be heard.”
