Agenda item

The Chief Executive, in his role as Returning Officer, addressed Councillors about the pre-election restrictions that applied to this meeting.  He explained that, during this period of heightened sensitivity, it was necessary to balance business as usual with respecting the constraints of the purdah period.  He called on Councillors to not make reference to any candidate or any already contentious issue or one which has been raised by the candidates in their campaign literature.

Councillor Chris Watt raised a point of order in accordance with constitutional rule 4A, 44 that this meeting breached Article 13.6 ‘Decision Making by the full Council’ and those various rules that related to public access to the Council meeting. He stated his view that the only body with power to amend constitutional rules was the Council itself and that not allowing public contributions to this meeting fettered the democratic process.  The Chair responded that it was for her to balance the restrictions against the effect of cancelling the meeting altogether.  She invited the Chief Executive to comment, who offered to set out in writing to all Councillors the process by which they had come to the decision to manage the meeting in the way proposed.

Councillor Duncan Hounsell then raised a point of order (4A, 31(h)), seconded by Councillor Andy Wait, that the meeting proceed to the next business.  On a vote, this was RESOLVED.

The Chair then invited a formal proposal from the floor.  Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor Andy Wait, moved that Council continue with the agenda as set out, invoking 4A, 16 as necessary to enable the meeting to continue.

During the ensuing debate, legal confirmation was sought that the meeting was properly convened.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that it was and that pre-election restrictions applied, as previously explained by the Chief Executive.  The Chief Executive then offered clarification to points raised during debate; that it was incorrect that officers had been instructed to not answer questions in meetings, the public had not been prevented from attending Council, and that, although there was statute, there was no legal definition of purdah.  In conjunction with the Monitoring Officer, and following guidance from the LGA, it had been their judgement to advise as they had regarding meetings taking place during this period.  He offered a further point of clarification that the proposed amendments to the reports for this meeting had not been ruled out due to purdah, but for other reasons.

The Council then voted on Councillor Romero’s proposal which was RESOLVED with 35 Councillors voting in favour, 15 against and 5 abstentions.

The Chair then made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting and using the microphones.

The Chair drew attention to the long and distinguished voluntary service by Brian Perrett of Radstock, Denise James of Keynsham in Bloom and Britain in Bloom judge, and Catherine Whybrow of the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company who recently passed away relatively young, and before they could receive the Chair’s honours for which they should have been nominated. The closing date for nominations for the Community Awards is 20 December 2019, and the Chair stated that one should not leave it too late to commend people.

The Chair requested that everything possible be done by the Council to support veterans and military families, as Council has pledged to do. At the Chair’s request, the Council then stood for a minute’s silence to honour those who have died defending our country.

[Notes;

1.  Councillor Chris Watt wished it recorded that he did not consider his concerns to have been properly addressed.]