We’re being gagged, say Lib-Dems

Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes has hit out after two of his party’s three motions were thrown off a council meeting agenda.

They were on prescription charges and the drink-driving limit and were due to be debated at Wednesday’s full council meeting.

But both were discarded by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman, who said they did not relate closely enough to Oldham.

Councillor Sykes said: “The Lib-Dem’s were gagged. We were informed less than two hours before the start of the meeting that our motions would be ruled out of order by the Mayor.

“Labour claimed the two motions were not constitutional because they were not about a matter over which the council has a direct influence and that they are of no relevance to the business of Oldham Council.

“So according to the Labour administration, Oldham Council has no business in trying to improve the lives of Oldham residents who live with long-term medical conditions or in preventing further needless deaths from drinking and driving in the borough.

“This view is totally contradictory to the responsibilities and legal duties placed on Oldham Council to promote public health and to maintain road safety, so these motions surely fall within the Council’s constitutional remit.

“According to Labour, Oldham Council can have no influence in changing Government policy on these matters; yet the council leader was happy to work with me to support our council making representations to Government to grant local authorities more powers to restrict betting shops on our High Street and to continue to allow camera cars to monitor poor parking at school gates. Both of these have been successful campaigns, in part because of the direct influence of Oldham Council.

“We are not so naive as to say that passing these motions will in themselves change Government policy but the Lib-Dems do have faith that Oldham Council with other local authorities and the Local Government Association can together bring about change.”

A council spokesperson said: “This was a decision made by the Mayor and is in line with the council constitution. The decision was not challenged at the meeting. No points of order were raised about it at full council.”

What do you think?
SHOULD Oldham councillors spend time debating issues over which they have no control? Let us know what you think. Tweet or email Dawn Marsden.

email: dawnmarsden@oldham-chronicle.co.uk