THE CONDUCT of Conservative councillors over the level of debate in the council chamber has been raised by the opposition following last Thursday’s meeting.
Angry Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Lindsay Ferris said: “I’m rather annoyed at the members’ questions. The length of answers were very long and the mayor had complained about a new member for asking her question but did not pull up an Executive member who had a page-and-a-half of statement before he got to any answer.
“We need to have something clearer so when members ask questions we’ll expect an answer.
“We do need some detail but not a page-and-a-half saying how wonderful we are. It’s not fair on members, we’ve had five or six questions not taken tonight but the meeting has finished at 9.10pm.”
And two newly-elected councillors were furious that their questions were not dealt with how they had expected.
In a letter to The Wokingham Paper, printed on page 17, Cllr Helen Power said that the Conservatives refused to listen to other views.
A question she had tabled about anti-social behaviour in Woosehill due to a lack of time, despite the council meeting finishing just after 9pm – it could have been extended to 9.30pm.
New Norreys councillor, Rachael Burgess, asked a question about access to the town centre during the regeneration works, raising issues for disabled and elderly people. She wanted to know what the council would do to “improve the town centre for residents and businesses during the remainder of these works”.
In reply, Cllr Philip Mirfin, the new Executive member for regeneration spoke at length about the journey that the council had been on during the regeneration (see left).
Speaking to The Wokingham Paper afterwards, Cllr Burgess said that she felt her question hadn’t been understood.
She said: “The Tories are still not listening, they still don’t get it. They carry on talking to themselves about how wonderful the regeneration is going to be – when they should be listening to residents’ views about the situation in the town right now. Residents want to see a change in the council – and at the council meeting we just saw the same old Tories.
“Incidentally, I met with [regeneration officer] Bernie Pich earlier this week regarding the regeneration and at Council Philip Mirfin said he would try to attend the meeting – he did not come.
“What I actually asked for was for Cllr Mirfin to meet with me and local residents to discuss our ideas about how to make the town centre more accessible while the works continue – he has not accepted my offer.”
The issue has also been raised by residents who attended the meeting. They took to social media afterwards to air their grievances.
One said: “We elect local Councillors to be our voice on local issues and speak on our behalf in meetings. Tonight proves that they are not being allowed to do so.”
Another said: “It’s doing residents a disservice by not allowing councillors to ask their questions.”
Wokingham Conservatives hit back at the claims, saying it was the opposition asking long questions that was the issue.
Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, Leader of the Council, said: “Councillors have been repeatedly warned about asking supplementary questions that are too long.
“Both at Full Council meetings, chaired by the Mayor, and Executive meetings chaired by me, councillors been reminded that we have a clear set of rules about this.
“The Council’s constitution says supplementary questions should not be long statements.
“When councillors ask questions that are far too long, other people miss out on the chance to challenge Executive Members.
“This is the second Council meeting in a row where Opposition questions that are too long have meant that other important pieces of business have dropped off.
“There are other opportunities to ask questions of Executive Members – including by email, on the phone, or face-to-face at any time. Executive Members are always open to questions – it does not just have to happen at formal meetings.
“I will be writing to all councillors to remind them of the Council’s rules and the importance of short, succinct questions to ensure fairness for their colleagues.”
