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Councillors' anger over remote scrutiny meetings

Thursday, 3 October 2024 at 13:37

By Ted Peskett - Local Democracy Reporter X @TedPeskettNews

Opposition councillors in the Vale were left outraged after plans to scrap face-to-face meetings were rubberstamped.

Vale Council voted to change the multi-location meetings policy in its constitution at a meeting on Monday, September 30, which means all scrutiny committee meetings can be held remotely instead of in person.

It is hoped the move will save the local authority thousands of pounds.

Cabinet members agreed to the plans for fewer in-person meetings in July, but the latest development means the proposal is ratified through the constitution.

One Conservative councillor, Cllr Anthony Ernest (Plymouth ward), said he agreed with some of his colleagues in saying the move would deny “the democratic rights of elected members to appear in the chamber and take part in debates”.

Fellow Tory councillor, Cllr Stephen Haines (St Athan), said: “If this isn’t an erosion of democracy I really don’t know what is.”

The leader of the Plaid Cymru group, Cllr Ian Johnson (Buttrills), said councillors should be entitled to meet face to face for scrutiny committees and one of his group colleagues said technical issues have led to meetings being adjourned and incorrect information being shown to councillors in the past.

Cllr Mark Hooper (Baruc) said: “What that tells me is that scrutiny in this council is poor."

“If we are making a choice between cost and scrutiny, the cost of poor scrutiny far exceeds the £10,000 supposed saving from having remote-only meetings.”

Labour councillor, Cllr Ewan Goodjohn (Cadoc), reminded councillors that the chairs of scrutiny committees can request meetings to be held in a hybrid format.

However, the request for hybrid meetings can only happen if discussions taking place at the meeting are of a “county-wide interest”, according to a council report.

Independent councillor for Sully, Cllr Kevin Mahoney, said: “The thought that you are actually trying to stop people coming into the chamber is… absolutely ludicrous."

“Who do you people think you are? [Remote] should be for those who cannot make the meeting.”

A number of Labour councillors, including Cllr Susan Lloyd-Selby (Buttrills), said making scrutiny committee meetings available remotely increases engagement and allows more people to take part.

Cllr Mark Wilson (Stanwell) said making meetings available remotely increases participation and the council should go ahead with a move to remote scrutiny meetings if it is committed to tackling climate change.

Council leader Lis Burnett, said: “There are all sorts of reasons why people want to come in or not. Hybrid gives them that option, but actually if there is no reason to come in I personally prefer to protect my carbon footprint.”

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