FRESH BLOOD HALTS DISBAND ATTEMPT
New members of town council told it’s time to show respect
EFFORTS to disband a town council have seemingly been dropped despite a high profile campaign.
In May 2016, longstanding critic and member of Holyhead Town Council, Shaun Redmond, presented a petition with the names of 164 residents calling for a referendum on the council being scrapped altogether - which would have been a first of its kind event.
Cllr Redmond, who was also elected as a county councillor in May, presented a motion at Monday’s monthly town council meeting, seeking support in order to activate the mechanism, having accused the previous council of “dragging its feet” over the matter.
The council had blamed the delays on seeking suitable legal advice due to the unprecedented nature of the action.
But following a debate in the chamber, Cllr Redmond conceded he was willing to give the newly elected chamber, of which approximately 50% were newly elected in May, a chance to prove themselves to the electorate.
Under the 2011 Wales Local Government measure, a town or com- munity council can be disabled, referring back to the 1972 Local Government Act.
To enact this, after presenting a petition of at least 50 registered voters, a public meeting with at least 300 registered electors would need to be held within two months, needing a majority of those present to vote in favour of a referendum.
If a two-thirds majority of the town’s electors was secured, all the council’s assets and responsibilities would be transferred to Anglesey Council.
During Monday’s meeting, Cllr Redmond said: “In my view, this is unfinished business. This isn’t necessarily about dissolving the council now, but acting on the democratic right of those who signed the petition.
“This is your chance to show you accept and respect the Local Government Act.”
But according to the Mayor, Cllr Ann Kennedy, the legal advice received from experts was that the petition, in its current form, was not valid as it had “not been presented correctly.”
The clerk, meanwhile, said that holding a referendum in the town would cost around £7,000 of rate payers’ money, and there would be question marks over the future of town council run assets such as the Empire Cinema, Holyhead Park and 22 jobs.
Cllr Keith Thomas said: “Since May, around half of us here in the chamber are new members. The people of Holyhead have had a chance to make their views known since the petition is around 12 months old now.”
Cllr Vaughan Williams added: “I think there’s a real danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater here. I have no doubt that disbanding the town council would damage Holyhead beyond belief.”
Cllr Shaun Redmond had previously accused town councillors of failing to engage, listen, understand and communicate with residents.
He concluded: “The public felt they were not given a chance to have an input despite major decisions being made here. Hopefully we will learn from that.
“I am willing to amend the motion, but if I feel there’s any return to where we were, there will be another petition in front of you.”
The amended motion, with all reference to activating the petition being withdrawn, was unanimously passsed by members.