Guildhall squabbling 'bad for Hull's image', says Tory leader
A SENIOR COUNCILLOR has warned that any more bust-ups at the Guildhall could damage the city's image.
Last week's full council meeting ended abruptly when opposition Liberal Democrats walked out in protest at the voting tactics of the ruling Labour group.
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Critic: John Fareham
Labour used its majority to shorten debates on a proposed switch fortnightly bin collections and the co-ordination of roadworks in the city.
Labour used the same ploy to defer a Lib Dem motion seeking to censure transport portfolio holder Martin Mancey over his handling of the road works issue.
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During angry exchanges, councillors from both parties shouted across the council chamber at each other with some Lib Dems accusing Labour of "bully boy" tactics.
Caught in the crossfire was Conservative group leader Councillor John Fareham, who twice voted against Labour's move to close down the debates.
An ex-Lord Mayor, he said some of the behaviour at last week's meeting had been the worst he had witnessed in his 27 years as a councillor.
"At a time when companies like Siemens are looking to invest in Hull, I am fairly certain they are also looking for maturity and stability from the local council.
"However, if they had been watching what was going on last week I am not sure they would have been very impressed at all.
"Labour need to be careful where they are going with this because it does send out the wrong messages to potential investors."
Cllr Fareham said he believed the Labour group needed to "man up" and face criticism from opposition councillors at full council meetings.
"My genuine view is that, as opposition councillors, we get one day every month where we get to set the agenda and that is on the day of the full council.
"Everyone knows Labour has got the majority to win every vote but for one day the opposition can challenge them and put forward their alternative views on how the city should be run. That's called democracy.
"Labour should man up and take it and should not be trying to stifle debate in this fashion.
"I am all for healthy debate, but on this occasion there was no need for certain people to be yelling and shouting abuse.
"They are not the actions of a mature group of people."
He said the tables had been completely turned since the days when the Tories were last briefly in power in Hull in the late 1960s.
"In those days, Labour in opposition would deliberately stretch every full council meeting out until two in the morning.
"It was their right to do it and we had to sit there and take it.
"They were also quite happy to make meetings last all day when Carl Minns was in charge. Now it appears they have changed their minds."
Labour's group secretary Tom McVie said the closure votes were necessary because the issues had already been discussed in-depth during scrutiny meetings.
Comments
by localvoice
Friday, October 26 2012, 2:59PM
“John you really can pick your argument talk about bringing a cloud over the Council when you said what you did about local residents. Lib Dems need to be real and stop crying and jumping up and down like a toddler not getting wht they want, for one McGobb has to watch his blood pressure again but when your surrounded by the likes of A bell and Chief Whip T keal you can understand it I suppose.
Labour have said the debate on these issues had been done and yet the Lib Dems wanted to waste Council taxpayers money to make petty political points.
Our City needs promoting and we all agree only the Lib Dems want to keep have public spats and do the PC thing and call people Bullies Come on McGobb your bigger that that in more ways .”
by qualitychap
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:24PM
“until the city's boundaries are extended,to bring in more Tory councillors to add to the mix of the guildhall and show a true reflection of the hull urban area,labour will dominate this stagnant city,as a Tory hull councillor,john fareham comes across to me like a wet Wednesday in withernsea.
why have the Tories never made any real impact in the guildhall ?,after all hull is at the bottom of most league tables in the country and has a terrible reputation.yet hulls citizens still vote labour,Mr fareham you should be doing better with this ongoing situation,maybe change your tactics.”
by 23041642
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 6:40PM
“You are all a f----ing joke. If anything was to turn me off polictics and taking an interest in the management of this city it's you lot. HCC is a laughing stock in other authoritiy areas, a complete basket case and incompetent. WAKE up and do your civic duty to a standard expected by the citizens of Hull.”
by JayOnly
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 3:02PM
“The place is a joke. No wonder no one's interested in Local Politics. They've always been a blight on the landscape. What surprises everyone is how Hull's dine as well as it has, despite this lot.”
by KiminHull
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 10:14AM
“No mention from Cllr Fareham about the screaming hissy fit the Lib Dems had before storming out in a wave of thrown rattles... I watched the webcast and the childishness from the Lib Dems was astounding. Labour did not storm out when a smugg and giggling Minns and McCobb did it to them 27 times, whilst they were in charge... Pot Kettle Black”
by PatrickNewman
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 9:51AM
“How very partisan of Cllr Fareham not to even criticise anything that his Lib Dem Coalition poodles do. Perhaps he thought Labour was acting like plebs. No doubt he is pleased Sir George Young has replaced Andrew Mitchell as Chief Whip. Sir George I dont think has ever used the P word but he did say "The homeless is what you step over after you come out of the opera" when the Tories were last in power without the LD's. I sure Cllr Fareham is more than capable of blurting out something similar.”
by facedontfit
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:09AM
“"could damage the city's image."
Could? Too late mate.”
by January48
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 7:57AM
“It's easy to say that this is pot calling kettle, but Cllr Fareham is absolutely right on this one. Labour feel that they have got back the right to unopposed power that they had up to 2002, the right to do as they like, to close down any debate and treat the opposition with contempt.”
by threedogz
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 7:51AM
“This is the same guy who repeatedly voted with the Libs over the last five years (who according to my sources) cut the debates short 27 times.As the previous person says GLASS HOUSES”
by Guildhalldog
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 7:44AM
“Talk about pot calling the kettle black. Cllr Fereham has himself been know to try and shut down debate plus when the Lib Dems was in power they had it down too a T shutting debates down on a whim to get the business done in the day. Its simple if you see the amount of silly motions the Lib Dems make you have to find a way of getting the business done in the day.
Its been said before the Lib Dems would have had 3 speakers on each motion with Labour and the Tories only getting one each, they complained at this like spoiled brats. Its about time the Lib Dems got on and worked for the people they was elected for not trying to write leaflets. The cuts this government are making being propped up by the spineless U-turning reversing Lib Dems is hurting this city and everyone in it. They would do better with the time to try and fight to put more money back into the pocket of the public then shouting at the Lord Mayor and everyone else because they cant get there own way.”