Is this Democracy?
Last night’s Borough Council meeting provided the perfect example of the Tory’s view of democracy. In their book, democracy means that you win control and then adopt the ‘winner takes all’ philosophy. You stifle debate and use your majority to force through two important issues in under fifty minutes.
The first major debate was in relation to the debacle about appointing a new Chief Executive. As regular readers will know, the appointments process was put ‘on hold’ after it was announced that Cannock Chase District Council had approached Stafford with a view to sharing back office functions and possibly the position of Chief Executive. Then, within days, Cannock Chase very publicly called off the discussions.
Not surprisingly, the Labour group put down a question to allow a debate to take place about the whole embarrassing situation. Under the ten minute rule, it was possible to extend the time limit but - no - the Conservatives out voted the proposal to extend time. So all we really learnt was that the discussions with Cannock were back on as were discussions with ‘another local authority’. And the Tory leader tried to explain away the problem by referring to the approach from Cannock as being ‘informal’. That’s the first time I’d heard that description and I don’t recall it being so described in any press releases! So ten minutes was all that allowed to discuss this important issue - well, actually that’s not quite right because the Tory leader managed to keep talking for at least another minute after her allotted time. What a shambles!
And the budget debate was over and done with in the blink of an eye! It seems that the Tory mantra is ” we’ve presented a balanced budget”. Of course they have! They are required, by law, to do so! Whilst I do have some sympathy for the Tories who are having to balance the books after an appalling government settlement, the facts are very simple. Their stubbornness in refusing to levy a proper level of Council Tax in the last four years has come back to haunt them. And I hate to think how they can now hope to balance the books over the next few years.
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