Council proposals sad for democracy, says Lib Dem Cllr

Paul Elgood, the Liberal Democrats councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide, has strongly criticised Brighton and Hove City Council’s proposed changes to the way council meetings operate.

Cllr Elgood believes that if proposals are passed it will be a “sad day for democracy”. He is particularly unhappy at a plan to limit full council meetings to four hours, at which point an automatic guillotine vote will be called.

He said: “I say just four hours, as to most people that might seem long enough, but the current meeting includes a plush meal break and the council only meets eight or so times a year anyway, so its no great hardship.”

The council have also proposed a Members’ question time, which will follow the format of the often rowdy Prime Minister’s question time. However, Cllr Elgood is not a fan of this idea, saying: “The behaviour of some members is immature enough already and their conduct a disgrace.”

He also slammed the plan to limit the number of motions as “just plain undemocratic”. He added: “What can they be thinking off?”

Read more from Councillor Elgood on his blog.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on March 2, 2010. Filed under Council News,Liberal Democrats,Paul Elgood. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry