Disgraceful scenes in South Shields Town Hall

Independent supporters transform Council Chamber into a bear pit.

There were absolutely astonishing scenes in South Shields Town Hall this afternoon as two separate meetings of South Tyneside District Council took place. An Extraordinary Meeting had been called for 2.30 p.m. to discuss a series of motions proposed by the Independent Alliance group of councillors, and this was followed by the regular cyclical meeting of the Council.

Councillors and non partisan members of the public struggled to hear the dialogue of the meetings as supporters of the Independent group reduced the democratic debate to the values of a bear pit. There can be no getting away from the fact that the introduction of public participation did not intend the sort of football crowd antics that I witnessed this afternoon. A stream of constant interruptions, cat calls, jeering, cheering, talking amongst themselves, and clapping, in equal measure stripped away all dignity from the meeting of our borough’s council. It was a shambolic embarrassment! A stronger or different Mayor may well have taken the decision to empty the public gallery, it was most undignified.

As far as I understand things the public are invited to ask questions NOT to hijack the meeting and cause chaos! Yet these scenes manifested themselves in the Extraordinary Meeting which WAS NOT convened for public questions! This meeting started at 2.30 p.m. and caused the second meeting to start at 4.45 p.m. I cannot tell you what time it concluded as I left at 5.20p.m. as the meeting had barely got underway after more inane procedural questions from Cllrs. Allen and Jane Branley (Westoe Ward)

Their approach to the two meetings was inexplicable, they had no idea or clue about the Council’s Constitution and were constantly asking for guidance from the Solicitor Brian T. Scott. Good God these two have NINETEEN years of council experience between them, the first thing that they would received after being elected is a copy of the Constitution and Standing Orders! In all of this time have they ever bothered to read it?

I was exasperated, particularly after Jane Branley confessed to not knowing the Standing Orders too well and Allen Branley kept enquiring whether he would be allowed to speak after amendments had been accepted. There are basic rules for debate for all councillors to understand and follow, the right time for seeking advice from Officers is before you go into the meeting, NOT during the debate!

On the motion to extend the length of time for questions form the public or councillors they were offered a concession from the Leader of the Council Paul Waggott to set up a cross party working group which would consider best practice and find a consensus that might lead to an amicable solution. The Branleys smelled a rat (or so they thought) and rejected it out of hand, complaining about the lack of a structured timetable. However, Waggott’s amendment was carried so they can involve themselves in further talks, but they will HAVE to accept that changes in Standing Orders can only take place at the Annual Meeting. Rules are rules, and if they seriously intend to one day dominate the Council Chamber they will need to be prepared to play to the same rules themselves,(and we realy don’t need four and a half hours of questions before we get to the meat of the business.)

On this point of questioning, I repeat my assertion, that if councillors are doing their job meticulously and correctly by raising questions in committee and CAFs, and challenging in full council, then there should be little need for additional questions from the public. Councillors (of all parties) are elected to represent our views and we should expect them to do that, if we don’t like their views we get the chance to dump them at the next election (assuming that all the votes will count.)

On the motion to webcast Council proceedings, once again an olive branch was offered and rejected. Paul Waggott came up with a “red herring” over a £20,000 cost, but this is what it cost Newcastle City Council ten years ago! Prices for such equipment have dropped dramatically since then as we all know. Personally, I do not think it necessary to have a high-tech system which automatically focuses in on councillors faces when they switch on their microphones. Nor do we need a cameraman. Phooey!

Just mount a half decent camera with a wide angle lens in a central position over the electronic voting board behind the Mayoral Chair. It will cover the whole of the Chamber and the public gallery too, the wiring could easily be channelled with voting equipment so there should be next to no disruption to the fabric of the Chamber. By not agreeing to install such a system in the near future the Labour Party have missed a golden opportunity to broadcast the antics of the Branleys! Instead, this rather brilliant idea will be kicked about in a committee for evaluation. I sincerely hope that someone will take the idea seriously.

During almost all of the three hours that I was present the Opposition attack consisted virtually entirely of Jane and Allen Bradley, and what really was the point of calling for time consuming named votes? The outcome was predictable, so why bother with that tactic.

Here’s a pedantic point if I may. Does our council no longer informally insist on a dress code for male members? Surely someone as affluent as Allen Branley can afford a shirt and tie. If you are coming to decide council business, you could at least look businesslike!

The Progressives give me grave concerns, as a party which has a long history of Independently representing the slightly right of centre viewpoint in these parts, they have become a meek and meaningless shadow of their former self. They have got themselves hitched in a marriage of convenience with the Branley Bunch and they have allowed themselves to be totally marginalised. No longer policy driven but led by a couple of utter second-hand socialist nincompoops who cannot even understand the etiquette of debating principles and pulling a band of rebellious “Luddites” behind them determined to stifle and stop any forward development for this town. The Progressives, if they have any wit left should press for a divorce, as soon as possible!

I repeat a couple of statements that I have made in the past. We have a Labour Council because we deserve it. The Opposition will not heed the call to sharpen their act or produce responsible alternative policies. We are faced with a choice of NuLabour or Nearly New Labour, until people realise that there ARE alternatives.

Here’s a direct appeal to Paul Waggott and Iain Malcolm – GET THAT WEBCAM PUT UP BEFORE NEXT MONTH – (you can even accept Allen Branley’s offer of payment.)

Curly now sits back, puts the tin helmet on and waits for the artillery barrage!