Leader’s high standards
A SPEECH by the leader of the council was interrupted so that the Lib Dem leader could raise concerns over the recent standards board row (see page 16).
Cllr John Halsall was attempted to apologise to both the chamber and Philip Meadowcroft, the member of the public who raised awareness that the standards board was meeting in contravention to the council’s constitution.
This led to Cllr Halsall resigning from chairing the committee.
He said: “(Mr Meadowcroft) was correct, there has been an anomaly (in the make-up of the board) and I thanked him for raising it.”
Interrupting, Cllr Lindsay Ferris said: “As a result of actions arising at the last meeting of the Standards Committee, I believe the Leader of the Council owes a member of the public a public apology for the way he was treated at that meeting.
“In addition I also believe the Leader of the Council owes this meeting of the Council an apology for the dismissive way that his Administration has acted. I am sure you can see the irony of having a Standards Committee, which is supposed to oversee all aspects of the Council, only to find itself was unconstitutional.”
However, the mayor, who was chairing the council meeting, said it was not appropriate for discussion at that point.
Resuming his speech, Cllr Halsall reminded the chamber that no one had spotted the problem in the past 21 months, and had he been aware, changes would have been made.
“I apologise to members and officers for the anomaly,” he said.
“The Chief Executive has assured members that, although an inconsistency existed, the appointments were made by Full Council and therefore were constitutional. The Chief Executive has also pointed out that the composition and operation of the Standards Board are not statutory but local preference.”
Cllr Halsall also thanked people for their work during the pandemic, including “all those, who have played a part in helping those who have suffered not just the effect of the virus itself but the problems which have accompanied it.
“This includes all carers, doctors, health staff, emergency services, health, police, fire, rescue, ambulance, teachers, school staff, charities in short everybody who has stepped up to the plate and made it possible for life to continue during these unspeakable times.”