Prior to last week’s Full Council meeting, councillor for Bembridge and St Helens, Jonathan Bacon told On The Wight that he had submitted a written question for Cllr Pugh to answer during members’ question time (quite normal in itself).
He was surprised to receive an email from a council officer in the legal department a while later, rejecting his submitted question, thus blocking him from being able to ask it in the public meeting.
What is lobbying firm’s involvement on the Island?
Cllr Bacon proposed to ask, “Last week it was noted in the media that Councillor Pugh is employed as an account director for a media consultancy called Cratus. The report noted that one of the company’s clients is Infinergy, which was the applicant in the planning application for the Wellow Wind Farm.
“As there are many rumours doing the rounds could the leader state whether Cratus is currently engaged, or has in the past been engaged, to act in respect of the application to build a new Asphalt plant, the PFI contract, Academy Schools on the Island and/or the Ecoisland project.”
Conflict of interest?
The question continued, “Further, and in any event, while members should not be unduly restricted from appropriate contracting and employment, would the leader comment on whether it is wise for members to take up employment or engage in paid activities in company with other individuals or organisations who it is known are involved or engaged in projects which the Isle of Wight Council is involved in, such as those already listed, particularly when those activities or projects are of a controversial nature.”
“Not related to policy and budget” claim
The council officer put forward in an email their reasons for rejecting the question, they said, “I’m writing to let you know that under the constitution (P85 Procedure Rule 9 paragraph 4) we must reject a question if (a) it is not related to policy and budget and (e) it relates to an individuals own particular circumstances.”
Try again …
Cllr Bacon submitted the following re-worded question, “While members should not be unduly restricted from appropriate contracting and employment outside their Council duties, is it wise for members to take up employment or engage in paid activities in company with other individuals or organisations who it is known are involved or engaged in projects which the Isle of Wight Council is involved in, such as those already listed, particularly when those activities or projects are of a controversial nature.”
Alas, this was rejected once again by the officer, “I still don’t think your reworded question relates to budget or policy and so I must reject it.” they told Cllr Bacon.
Image: bludgeoner86 under CC BY 2.0
