Council leaders in war of words

2:20pm Friday 5th September 2008

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A DECISION to scrap a scheduled Wyre Forest District Council meeting has sparked a war of words between the leaders of the two major parties.

Conservative, John Campion, Leader of the council, said the full meeting on September 13 had been cancelled because there was not enough “substantive business” to discuss.

He added: “Interestingly, not all members of the council feel its meetings are very important, as the Health Concern group Leader or deputy could not be bothered to attend the July full meeting of the council, where many important decisions were taken.”

Howard Martin, Independent Health Concern Leader, retorted: “This appalling childish attack on me is gutless.

“I have a life and a family. I wasn’t able to decide when I went on holiday this year. My wife is a nurse and we have to book our holidays 12 months in advance.

“Having said, that I respect totally the decision Deputy Leader, Brian Glass, took. The building was being picketed and he would not cross. He acted out of honourable reasons.

“I have never crossed a picket line in my life and would have done the same thing. If there was any honour in John Campion he would respect other people’s views.”

The council’s meetings are scheduled for the municipal year during the annual meeting in May and the constitution states that it must hold at least four ordinary full council meetings a year.

Mr Campion said: “There is a no point in meeting just for the sake of it, as I believe we have a duty to spend taxpayers’ money responsibly and I would prefer to spend it on services to the public, rather than on pointless meetings.”

Mr Martin described the Conservative administration as “autocratic, not democratic” and called on Mr Campion to resign.

Mr Martin added that just because Mr Campion had no business to discuss it did not mean he could remove the right of other parties to speak.

He explained that his party had important motions to present on protecting Wyre Forest’s post offices and supporting the campaign to abolish prescription charges.

He said the decision was “unconstitutional” and he would be referring the matter to the Audit Commission for investigation.

Liberal Leader, Fran Oborski, said: “Council meetings cost at least £1,500 to organise. I think they are an important part of the democratic process but there is no point in holding them if there is no business to discuss.”

“There won’t be councillor’s questions but, with few exceptions, this is all about political point scoring. I can’t see the public wanting to spend £1,500 on that. ”

She added: “All council meetings and committees are open to the public. I don’t think there is a reduction in public access.”