‘Disarray’ claim at city council amid changes in cabinet
CITY councillors have been told Derby City Council has a new interim deputy leader and the make-up of the council cabinet is “to be reviewed in the near future”.
But Conservative council leader Councillor Chris Poulter has denied Labour opposition claims that his cabinet is “in chaos with resignations and sackings”.
Mr Poulter dismissed Labour leader Councillor Baggy Shanker’s claims that his Conservative group is “in disarray” and called them “pure ridiculous politicking”.
Mr Shanker had claimed that Councillor Nicola Roulstone had resigned from her role as cabinet member for finance and that Councillor Matthew Holmes had been unwilling to take on the role and had left his position as deputy leader.
Mr Poulter confirmed a member of the cabinet had resigned from their role “for personal reasons”. He said: “As a result, I am reviewing the cabinet roles and portfolios.
“But I cannot ratify the situation until our group has met next Wednesday. In the interim, I have appointed Councillor Mick Barker as deputy leader as there is a statutory requirement for someone to be in that role.
“I totally deny we are in disarray and view this as pure ridiculous politicking.”
It is unclear where that leaves Mr Holmes’s role as cabinet member for regeneration, decarbonisation, strategic planning and transport but it is understood he currently remains deputy leader of the Conservative group and also as a cabinet member of Derby City Council, pending any review.
It is also understood that Ms Roulstone triggered the current situation by resigning her position as finance cabinet member after taking on full-time employment.
It is also understood that Councillor Jonathan Smale could move from communities to finance and Councillor Matthew Eyre could be brought in to replace him in any reshuffle.
Last week, at a council cabinet meeting, Mr Shanker dropped a bombshell by claiming the city council needed to find up to £29 million of savings and he estimated that could mean up to 500 job cuts
About the current Conservative situation, Mr Shanker said: “Whilst the council is in a dire financial position, the Tory cabinet is in chaos with resignations and sackings. Derby needs strong leadership and instead we get the usual Tory infighting, bitterness and incompetence. The minority administration is in tatters and needs to work with all 51 councillors or step aside and resign en masse.”
Mr Barker said he did not “recognise the word disarray” and
added: “Such is an unqualified comment from an opposition leader with a vivid imagination.
“Quite simply, a cabinet member has given proper notice of an intention to resign from cabinet in order to fulfil a full-time job opportunity, such is a sensible and honourable decision. The leader quite properly has to make provision to cover the post and that is in process - and will be announced shortly .
“In consideration of new cabinet positions, the post of deputy leader has similarly become vacant. For the interim period, the leader has nominated myself to perform that role.
“I have over the last three years shadowed that role and am therefore honoured to accept for a short period until internal processes confirm the position holder within the Conservative group.
“In the interim, business continues unabated in taking this city forward under a minority Conservative administration.”
Councillor Ruth Skelton, group leader of the Liberal Democrats on the city council, said: “The cabinet system des not help the situation because nine people hold the power and the rest of the group does not know what is going on. It does not help to steer the council, as is should be done at this crucial point as we are coping with Covid,
to have the controlling group fighting.”
A Derby City Council spokesman said: “The leader of the council, Councillor Chris Poulter, has notified the monitoring officer that he has appointed Councillor Mick Barker as interim deputy leader of the council. He has also confirmed that cabinet member roles and portfolio responsibilities will be reviewed in the near future.
“Article 7 of the council constitution outlines the arrangements for appointment of cabinet members, including appointment of the deputy leader.
“These appointments are solely the responsibility of the leader of the council, and they do not require a decision by council.
“Any changes to the council cabinet will not impact council services or meetings and we will continue with a business-as-usual approach.”
Councillor Matthew Holmes has served as a local councillor since 2008, initially for Chellaston Ward before being elected to represent Mickleover in 2016.
He was deputy leader of the council in 2011 -12 and served as leader of the opposition from 2016 until 2018. He took on his current role deputy leader of the council in May 2018.
Mr Holmes said he did not wish to comment on the situation.