Reform leaders in County Durham have been accused of “blocking and shutting down democratic debate” at the council’s final meeting in County Hall, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Rival councillors from the Liberal Democrats criticised the Durham County Council administration after the option to extend the time for debating several tabled motions was not supported.
Amanda Hopgood, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said “residents deserve” their elected representatives to have their voices heard.
But Reform UK’s deputy council leader Darren Grimes disputed the criticism and said any unfinished motions would be carried over to the next meeting in October.
Councillors had already backed a plea tabled by Reform’s Cathy Hunt to widen a holiday food scheme for low-income County Durham families. However, Helen Bradley, the council’s monitoring officer, told the meeting that there was not enough time left to discuss the other four motions.
Issues scheduled to be discussed included tougher powers against housing developers and a plea to halt asylum accommodation in Durham.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Hopgood said: “Reform’s administration refused to extend debate time, deliberately blocking and shutting down democratic debate.
“Of five motions on notice, only Reform’s own motion, first on the agenda, was heard. The other four were kicked into the long grass until October.
“This isn’t how local democracy is supposed to work. Residents deserve their elected representatives to have their voices heard, not silenced by a majority unwilling to sit and debate the issues that matter.”
Wednesday’s full council meeting was the final time the council’s historic headquarters hosted a full council meeting ahead of its demolition next year. Future meetings will be temporarily held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre until the authority’s new council chamber at the nearby Rivergreen Centre is ready.
Cllr Grimes accused opposition councillors of creating “manufactured outrage” for publicity following their election defeat, adding that Reform would remain focused on “fixing what the last lot left behind” and delivering for residents.
He added: “Let us be clear about what actually happened. The meeting ran to time under the standing orders that apply to every party equally, the same ones Cllr Hopgood used when she was running this place. Nothing was shut down. The remaining motions roll over to the next meeting, as they always do.
“This is manufactured outrage from a party that has confused losing an election with losing its rights. The Lib Dems are not fighting for residents this afternoon. They are fighting for a press release, and they have got one.
“Reform will keep doing the unglamorous work of fixing what the last lot left behind. The opposition can keep performing. We will keep delivering.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
