Anger as council axes local area committee
THE Southport Area Committee has officially been abolished, despite opposition from Liberal Democrat councillors.
Councillors from the party had fought to save the committee, arguing that it was the only forum in which residents could raise issues and have them decided only by those elected in Southport.
It was used to allow residents to put forward petitions and funding requests, for councillors to debate motions affecting the town and for local police leaders to openly discuss notable incidents and crime rates.
The committee, which met four times a year, was first threatened with closure in September 2017 when a council report questioned its viability.
That ruling was made final at a full council meeting on Thursday, January 26, despite members of the Lib Dem group raising issue with the legal process behind the closure.
Councillors argued that the council was contradicting its own constitution and that such a change could only be made at its annual meeting. But after a lengthy debate, this argument was dismissed by the council’s legal officer.
The committee will now be replaced by another forum to give residents the chance to speak about local issues, but further details are not yet clear.
Cllr John Pugh, the leader of the Lib Dem group and one of those who argued that the change was unconstitutional, accused the council of ignoring its own rules.
He said: “This is rule by a oneparty politburo.
“I know of no other organisation where a small clique can substantially alter its constitution on the hoof without allowing other members a say.
“What makes it worse is that there is an established process for changing Sefton’s constitution and it isn’t being followed.”
A spokesman for Sefton Council said that the decision to close the committees was made last year following a public consultation and that three new constituency forums would be set up to cover Southport, Sefton Central and Bootle.
The spokesman added: “Through the consultation we looked at the most effective ways for members of the public to talk to councillors and we believe the new process optimises more modern ways of reaching our wider communities.
“The new fora will be able to engage with local residents, community groups, partners, businesses, private sector organisations, parish councils and the voluntary, community and faith sector and will meet a minimum of two times a year without the formalities of the previous area committees.
“We are very confident this process is legally sound.”
Letters: p10-11