Liberal Democrat Councillors in B&NES have argued against proposed restrictions on the public’s right to speak at Council meetings, after it was requested they consider limiting questions and statements from members of the public.
Councillors, meeting for one of the six annual ‘full Council’ meetings, were asked to consider amendments to the Council’s procedural rules.
These amendments would have limited the number of questions and statements members of the public would be allowed to make at Council meetings.
Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We were concerned that the proposal to restrict the number of questions and statements members of the public would be anti-democratic.
“Councillors are elected to serve the community and we should be encouraging more residents to engage with Council decision making, not discouraging them.”
“I fear these proposals are something of a knee jerk reaction after the November Council meeting, in which over 80 residents registered to speak.
“When there is such strength of feeling in the local community, the administration should be listening rather than asking ‘how can we stop so many people speaking next time?’”
Councillor Rob Appleyard (Lambridge), added: “When you look at the numbers, these proposals could have meant that as few as 100 residents would have the chance to speak at full Council over the course of a whole year.
“Surely that cannot be fair? The answer to concerns about getting through Council business is agenda management, not restricting residents’ democratic access.”
2 Comments
Edna Macmillan
Tuesday 12th January, 2016 at 09:33Tories don’t like to have to listen to the little people.
Phil Johnston
Tuesday 29th December, 2015 at 10:52Cllr Romero’s idea it would be undemocratic is a massive understatement. The council leadership seemed unable to listen to the public on 12th November and then to respond with ‘change the rules so we don’t have to listen’?!
What a total disgrace to those who elected them to even consider this.
Phil Johnston
SBM