This in from Cllr Geoff Lumley, in his own words. Ed
After the Tory leadership of the IW Council blocked his attempts at this week’s Full Council to have a debate on his Motion opposing the transfer of the IW’s fire control service to Surrey, Labour Cllr Geoff Lumley is disgusted to learn that the Tory’s now plan to discuss the matter at next week’s Cabinet meeting without any notice or it even being a prior agenda item.
Cllr Lumley has been told by Officers that his Motion will be added to the Cabinet agenda for its meeting next Tuesday night (21 June) by using the “special circumstances” provisions in the Local Government Act – none of which is referenced.
Officers’ report not ready until Tuesday
Officers will apparently be presenting a report to Cabinet on the service, financial and legal implications of his Motion, though this is unlikely to be ready until Tuesday. It will be circulated to all Members as soon as it is ready, and will be “round the table” on Tuesday night.
Geoff has also been told that he will not be able to explain why he has proposed the Motion when it finally gets debated at the 20 July Council meeting after this furtive Cabinet vetting process.
No time to consult on document
Geoff said, “Frankly some of the procedures being used to block my Motion are almost unbelievable. Having forced a Motion to go to Cabinet for the first time in my six years as a councillor, they are then going to rush it to Cabinet next week, with an Officer report that no one will have had time to study or consult upon in advance.
“Once it has been through that hoop, when it eventually gets to the next Full Council on 20 July I will be prevented from proposing it because I proposed it at this week’s meeting – some 5 weeks earlier. The Tories must really fear the way in which I continually embarrass them at Full Council.
“I called some of them fascists at Full Council this week for stifling democratic debate. That’s a bit strong I know, but they are certainly not what I would call democrats.
“And the losers in all this? Ordinary Islanders, a majority of whose representatives on the Council seem determined to prevent an open debate on why our fire control service is being transferred to Surrey.”
