Danger of trying to silence criticism

I MENTIONED three interesting things in the council statement. The third is some of the language the council used when discussing the Empty Homes Scheme.

It is true the police confirmed no fraud had been committed, but the council then adds that “that no members of any political party could be held responsible.”

I’m not sure it’s the job of the police to analyse the actions of local councillors other than to confirm no crime had been committed by anyone.

The political actions of councillors – such as the cabinet allowing themselves to be kept in the dark about a multi-million pound scheme – is not something the police would adjudicate on.

The statement also goes on to say it will “protect the reputation of the council when it unfairly comes under attack, for whatever motive.”

Seeing a council effectively trying to undermine an elected figure from asking awkward questions is unprecedented – and arguably dangerous for democracy.

In a separate statement, chief executive Mr Huntington claimed ‘the council is in a good place, despite limited resources’.

Hopefully that’s true. But this is also a council which has had to close the second of its three swimming baths in the last year, has paid out £10m at least for the Empty Homes Scandal, and whose leader, Alyson Barnes, hasn’t be able to rule out the council having to declare bankruptcy. It might be in the best place it can be given circumstances, but that doesn’t mean a good place.

The council and the MP do need to work together – but it’s alarming to see a council try and pick and choose who it should be held account by.