Lib Dems to try to remove "Council Gag" (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

Lib Dems to try to remove "Council Gag"

December 3, 2009 11:00 AM

Southend Airport

Southend Liberal Democrat group have put forward a Notice of Motion to the forthcoming Council meeting seeking to remove the "gag" effectively put on it by the administration over planning matters three years ago.

With the Airport proposals coming up to the Planning Committee (Development Control) at a special meeting in January Liberal Democrats believe that the full Council should be able to make the final decision.

Currently as few as nine members of the council could club together and make a majority decision at the DC meeting. Approving the airport proposals. This is patently unfair and more importantly, undemocratic says Cllr Graham Longley Group Leader and proposer of the Notice of Motion.

Three years ago the Tories changed standing orders and removed the right of members to "refer-up" (send to full council) applications which were of concern to them. Due to what they saw as a number of frivolous "reference-up's" the Tories took away the Councils ability to discuss applications.

Liberal Democrats say that it they took them away they can claim them back. "I believe that in the case of an application having a major effect on the town, its residents, its economic development and the Airport Runway extension fits this description then the Council should take it upon itself to make the final decision" say Cllr Longley.

Liberal Democrats have therefore submitted a Notice of Motion calling on the Full Council to take back its power on this one occasion so that the residents can see all their Councillors being able to represent them and not hide behind planning rules which prevent them being able to speak out.

"This is an absolutely vital decision for the town to make and it needs to be seen to be being done fairly and democratically. It should not be left to the possibility of only nine people making the final decision especially if they don't live or represent the areas affected," said Cllr Longley.

"It is essential that all members are involved and I hope the administration will be prepared on this one occasion to support the proposal he went on to say"