Council Cowardice Unacceptable

Following the adjournment of Sefton Council Meeting on the 10th July following disorder in the public gallery, there has been no news of a new date to resume business and councillors are still left in the dark as to when it will happen.

According to opposition leader, Liberal Democrat, Cllr. John Pugh the Council appears to be in a state of unprecedented paralysis as the democratic process grinds to a halt.  The Council was due to consider the plans for the Town Hall Gardens, Children’s Services, the annual Climate Emergency report, the Council’s Capital Budget, the Use of Public Spaces and other crucial items

" Even during the dark days of the poll tax riots council business in Sefton continued and if ever a meeting had to be adjourned, it was quickly reconvened. To let rowdy behaviour by a small number of protestors in the public gallery effectively kill a Council meeting is a dreadful precedent to set. Cowardice on behalf of the Council is unacceptable and will only lead to other protest groups chancing their arm."

Cllr. Pugh wrote to Sefton’s Director of Legal Services last Wednesday asking to know when the abandoned meeting would resume, but has not so far even got an acknowledgment. 

“It makes you think that the Council top brass have gone into a bunker somewhere and have no idea of a way forward. Leaving elected members in the dark as has happened is making matter worse”. 

Rumour has it that there is a wish to abandon the meeting altogether. That would be a victory for the forces of anarchy."

Ironically the July meeting was called off by the mayor at the moment when Cllr Pugh was scheduled to ask why the planned introduction of live streaming of Council meetings was delayed.