Committee Reform foiled by Mayor's Casting Vote (Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats

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Committee Reform foiled by Mayor's Casting Vote

December 21, 2004 12:00 AM

There was high drama at the meeting of Surrey Heath Council on December 15th, when a motion by Cllr Bob Smith to reform the representation of the joint Surrey Heath/Surrey County Council Local Committee was deadlocked at 19 votes for and 19 votes against. The deadlock was resolved by the Mayor cast a second or casting vote to reject the proposals. "With only one exception, where a Distinct Council in Surrey participates in a Local Committee, representation from the District Council is divided between the political groups. The exception is Surrey Heath, where only Conservatives represent the Borough" said Cllr Smith, as he called for this situation to be changed.

"The Leader of the Council says that any change should be delayed, referring to some possible but undefined reorganisation by the County Council of this Committee that may or may not take place at some undefined time in the future," he went on. "Is this Council to make its decisions based on rumour?"

Cllr Smith gave examples of the composition of these committees in other Surrey Districts:

Tandridge, Conservative controlled, where the representation was 4 Conservatives, 1 Lib Dem, and one other
Woking, with no overall control, where representation was 3 Conservatives, 2 Lib Dems, and 1 other
Waverley, which is Lib Dem controlled, where the representation is 4 Lib Dems and 4 Conservatives

Cllr David Whitcroft rejected Cllr Gibson assertion that the rules imposed by the County Council on membership of this Committee had `changed, and hence the current position was reasonable. "It's a shame no one told us in this chamber that the rules at changed" he thundered. "The message certainly seems to have got through to every other District Council in Surrey."

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Smith said: " The Conservatives admitted they were out of line with every other Council in Surrey. They admitted that this Committee should be constituted like every other Council, committee and be politically balanced. But nonetheless they voted to delay the matter for consideration at some indefinite time in the future. This decision was undemocratic and cynical manoeuvring. I wouldn't blame anyone who imagined it was something to do with the County Council elections in May, 2005."

Cllr Whitcroft commented: "We commend Cllr Bell on the Executive for his integrity and fairness in voting with the Lib Dem, Labour and Independent councillors in favour of reforming the current situation. However, we are disappointed with the Mayor, who is supposed to adopt a politically neutral position on such votes".