A few people have been circulating a very interesting idea – having a Private Vote at the Full Council at tonight’s proposed budget.
Usually, voting in the Isle of Wight Council chamber is done by a show of hands, so it’s very clear who is voting for … or against a proposal.
Normally seeing which councillors are voting for what is a very good idea – but as we keep on being reminded – we live in extraordinary times (ie the economy is shot).
The Conservatives Block Vote
There’s another issue as well. The ruling Conservatives at the council vote in a single block – that is, when it comes to a vote on council policy, they all vote the same.
It’s hard to believe that all of the councillors always agree with what is being proposed, or that they’re necessarily representing the majority of the people who voted them into their position. That doesn’t appear to matter. There is no personal preference. They vote as one.
With such a strong record of block-voting, it become increasingly difficult for any of the Conservative councillors to vote against what the party leadership has decided is right. The risk is to be shunned, or cast into the wilderness.
Private vote
In a Private Vote, there would be no hands in the air, but members would be free to vote as their conscious took them.
This would allow councillors such as Cabinet member, Cllr Peter Bingham, representing Brighstone, to be able to vote against the proposed 2.5% council tax rise, so he could honour the pledge that he put on his election material, that, “A Conservative Council will freeze council tax for two years.”
Only problem, there would have to be public vote in the chamber to accept the Private Vote.
Image: Thomas Roche under CC BY-SA 2.0
