Lib Dem councillor praises “win for collegiality”
While the main focus of the 14 July meeting of Lichfield District Council was the cinema project, Lib Dem Councillor Hugh Ashton (Stowe) introduced two motions on notice prior to the cinema debate. For Ashton, the way that these motions were moved and discussed was a “win for collegiality”.
He explains, “The first of my motions, on the failure of the Cabinet to produce a report on the feasibility of solar panels on Council-owned car parks that had been ordered by the Council a year ago was seconded by the Labour leader, Cllr Russ Bragger. The second, condemning Staffordshire County Council’s peremptory order on Pride displays in SCC-owned property, was seconded by Conservative Cabinet member for Community and Public Protection, Cllr Richard Cox. Both motions passed with no votes cast against them and only one abstention between the two of them.
In introducing the first motion, Cllr Ashton said:
Such a failure of Cabinet to comply with the wishes of Council is unacceptable. I have used the terms “disappointment and regret” in the written motion – I could have used others.
Given the subject of the report, which is concerned with renewable green energy, a key part of the Council’s 2050 strategy, this is particularly concerning. However, this is neither the time nor place to be debating the subject of the report – this motion is concerned with the fundamental mechanics of democracy in local government.
Many other members from the Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative groups spoke in support of the motion, expressing their frustration with the Cabinet failing to carry out actions that had been promised, and following Cllr Bragger’s summing up, a vote was taken. The motion was passed unanimously, including the Leader and Cabinet voting for it, with no abstentions.
The second motion was also partly related to governance. In his introduction to the motion, Ashton said:
Personally, I am appalled by this decision. I thought we had outgrown this kind of prejudice as a society years ago. And it goes on. The refusal to promote any particular group might well be applied to Christmas events or displays. After all, Christmas, by its very name, is promoting a particular group – Christians. And of course, this applies to every other religious festival that is practiced here in our diverse communities around Staffordshire. Not to mention International Women’s Day – a group comprising at least 50% of the county’s population. Or Remembrance Day commemorations. Or Black History Month. To name but a few.
He then added, in reference to a Library Strategy mentioned by Cllr Murray, currently leader of Staffordshire County Council:
“I can find no reference to this Strategy. My request to Cllr Murray for explanation of the Strategy’s legal status, and my Freedom of Information request are so far unanswered.
It would seem that this Reform UK-led county council has decided that its whims should become directives, without debate or oversight or scrutiny or approval. Let us condemn this action by the Reform UK members of the County Council and make it clear to them and to the county as a whole that Lichfield District stands for diversity and inclusivity. In the words that a fellow councillor once said to me, 'we are better'”.
This also attracted impassioned support and speeches from across the political spectrum, with Cllr Cox summing up with a warning that actions such as Staffordshire’s could be the start of a “slippery slope” leading to far more noxious and dangerous policies. The vote for the motion was unanimous, with one abstention by Cllr Wallens, the sole Reform UK District councillor.
Ashton concludes,
“At a time when accusations are flying left and right over the handling of the cinema deal, it was gratifying to see the left and right sides of the Council uniting to find common causes on which we can all agree. This is a win for collegiality.
“I am grateful to my fellow councillors for restoring my trust in human nature and decency – something which I realise is not always publicly apparent in local politics. What I hope is that these two motions have shown to Lichfield district residents and to us as councillors, that there is more that unites us at a fundamental level than divides us. I hope that this principle will be borne in mind in the coming months as we work together to put right the acknowledged mistakes that have been made regarding the cinema project.”
