'They expect us to discuss things that we are really here to govern. Discussions on bins, visitors or businesses are fine. But not proportional representation or nuclear warheads.'
A Tory move to prevent 'sixth form' debates at Lancaster City Council has failed, with claims that it would stifle local democracy.
Conservative Coun Richard Austen-Baker said city council debates in recent years on issues such as foreign affairs, Israel and Palestine, nuclear warheads or proportional representation in elections were like 'sixth-form debates'. They were irrelevant, sometimes divisive and damaging, wasted council resources and tax payers' money, he claimed. Democracy was expensive, he said.
Coun Austen-Baker said: "This is essentially a technical change to the rules about the approach taken by the chief executive regarding motions to be debated by the full council. Under the existing language of the council constitution, there is wording that it's valid to debate anything within the power of the district council, such as services or housing, and matters which effect residents or businesses or visitors.
"I think the constitution needs a modest change. Our motion suggests the chief executive should accept motions that are substantive to the council, responsibilities of the council, not just write letters to the government. Also motions should be on topics that matter more to residents and businesses locally, not just general debates."
RESIDENTS' VOICES AND THE ROLE OF COUNCILLORS Labour Coun Colin Hartley said: "I understand what you are trying to achieve. But I need clarification. We all speak to residents about all sorts of things. I bet every councillor has been spoken to potholes on roads. It's not officially a responsibility for this city council but I don't want us to be prevented from discussing it. It's an issue for the county council and national government, and includes funding and policies.
She said: "Why would you want to give more say to the chief executive over what we can discuss, given that we are a democratically-elected chamber? "We can write a letter to the secretary of state. Big deal. The government gets letters all the time about the BBC's royal charter. That's a national issues for Westminster. We [the UK] pay a lot of money to Westminster. Let them do their job. The BBC would be excluded from council debates, under this proposed change."
"When we discussed dis-investing, regarding Israel and Palestine, it effected the circumstances of Jewish students and residents in the community. It opened a sore. Yes, there are Palestinian students on the campus but I don't think it helps to open the debate." Coun Austen-Baker claimed the council pension investment topic was 'used as a hook' to initiate a divisive debate.
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