Vote of no confidence in mayor after viral parish council video
A VOTE of no confidence in the Mayor of Cheshire East is set to be held next week, after his appearance in the viral parish council video clip.
Mayor Barry Burkhill, who represents Handforth as an Independent, also sits on Handforth Parish Council and can be seen – in the longer version of the video – asking ‘where the chairman [Councillor Brian
Tolver] has gone’ after being placed in the Zoom’s waiting room by Jackie Weaver.
Now, Conservative Coun Liz Wardlaw has submitted a notice of motion to full council, after calling for Coun Burkhill to ‘consider his position’.
The motion says: “The recent national coverage of the Handforth Parish Council meeting and our Mayor’s participation in that meeting has led us to believe he has brought this council and his role within this council into disrepute.
“He made no attempt to intervene as it became clear participants in that meeting were being bullied. The work that has been done at Cheshire East over the last three years with the cooperation and commitment of all members and officers to transform its culture and reputation from one of bullying and intimidation has been undermined by this sad episode.
“The inaction of the Mayor could be seen as a demonstration of his complicity in the bullying that occurred, and this cannot be ignored if the integrity of the Brighter Futures Programme is to be maintained.
“In light of the above [we propose] this council resolves that it has no confidence in the Mayor and that his term of office as Mayor and chairman of the council will cease immediately.”
The motion has been seconded by Coun Jos Saunders, member for Poynton East and Pott Shrigley.
Reacting to calls for Coun Burkhill to ‘consider his position’ the leader of the Independent group, Coun Craig Browne, who is also deputy council leader, said: “The council has an investigatory and disciplinary process which is currently in train and it is inappropriate [to comment] on any individuals’ behaviour until that process has been completed.
“That process is undertaken by an independent panel without councillors and saying anything could be prejudicial to getting a fair hearing.”
Coun Burkhill has been contacted for comment.