By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Fiasco-stricken Gloucester City Council could be plunged into further turmoil this week as opposition councillors aim to depose its current leadership.
The council, which has faced a series of huge challenges in recent years including a cyber attack and multi-million pound taxpayer-bailout, will debate a no-confidence motion in Jeremy Hilton.
The Kingsholm and Wotton councillor has led the minority Liberal Democrat administration at North Warehouse since the elections in 2024.
However, if the motion is successful on September 24 the a new leader will need to be elected. The council is made up of 17 Lib Dems, ten Conservatives, seven Labour councillors, four Community
Independents and one Independent Tory.
And it is unclear who the new leader would be as the Tory and Community group leaders have ruled out putting themselves forward. Labour has been approached for comment.
Opposition group leaders have blasted Cllr Hilton’s style of leadership, lack of openness and cross party working and would like to see another Lib Dem take the lead.
Tory group leader Stephanie Chambers (Quedgeley Fieldcourt) said she strongly believes that the Lib Dems need to put someone else up to be leader.
“They have mentioned several times in the past that they are the largest party,” she said.
“The motion is purely about Jeremy’s leadership and the culture that he is bringing to the council which we believe is extremely detrimental to the council.”
However, it is understood the Lib Dems would go into opposition if the motion succeeds as Cllr Hilton continues to have the confidence of his political group.
The motion comes while the authority is still in the midst of implementing a financial recovery plan. The council was granted an emergency bailout from the Government earlier this year.
It was granted access to up to £15.5m of emergency funding after auditors discovered multi-million pound budget deficits and accounting failures which stretches back years before the Lib Dems took office.
And now it is understood they are looking to request access to further financial support as the council faces further budget pressures under the Lib Dems.
Community Independents group leader Alastair Chambers (Matson, Robinswood and White City), who is tabling the motion on Thursday, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he would not stand to lead the authority if it succeeds.
But he believes that Cllr Hilton’s time as leader must come to an end. The former Conservative claims the council is seeking a potential further £8m which “raises serious questions about financial management, transparency and accountability.”
“This isn’t about personalities,” he said. “It’s about accountability.
“Gloucester deserves better leadership. Gloucester taxpayers deserve answers. And the keys to the council must be taken away from a leadership that has lost our confidence.”
It is understood the Conservative group will be backing the motion.
“We have not taken this decision lightly,” Tory group leader Stephanie Chambers said.
“We have tried to work constructively with Jeremy Hilton since he became Leader, but Gloucester City Council is in no overall control.
“Its leader must be able to listen, accept challenge, build trust and work with other parties for the good of the city. He has repeatedly failed to do that.”
She went on to reference a “damning” report published by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government last month.
“[It] confirmed that the leadership does not welcome scrutiny openly enough, and openness needs to improve and that the breakdown in trust posed a serious risk to the council’s recovery.
“These are not ordinary political disagreements. They are independent findings about a failure of leadership at the worst possible time for Gloucester.
“Yet Jeremy Hilton did not even brief members of his own group about the report.”
She went on to say the motion is not about the Lib Dems general but Cllr Hilton.
“This is specifically about Jeremy Hilton, his judgement, his conduct and the way he leads.
“We have tried private discussions, constructive proposals, formal questions, scrutiny and cross party working. He has been given repeated opportunities to change his approach, welcome challenges and rebuild trust. We have exhausted every reasonable attempt to make this work.”
Labour have not said publicly whether they will support the motion or not. Their leader Terry Pullen (Moreland), who has previously called for Cllr Hilton to resign, said he and his colleagues will continue to discuss the situation and potential implication ahead of the meeting.
“Whatever happens, the impact of this vote could have serious consequences for the people of Gloucester, the people we are elected to represent and to serve,” he said.
“As such, the Labour group will continue to discuss the situation and the potential implications until the council meets on Thursday.
“We should all take time to ensure we do what’s right for our city.”
Cllr Hilton said the irony of the motion is “extraordinary” as it comes within days of an independent report which is “calling for political maturity, constructive working and a relentless focus on financial recovery”.
“Opposition councillors have responded by trying to plunge the council straight back into political turmoil,” he said.
“They appear to have read the report, quoted extensively from it, and then ignored its central message.
“Nobody is suggesting councillors should stop scrutinising the administration as proper scrutiny is essential.
“But there is a world of difference between constructive challenge and perpetuating the political psychodrama that has distracted this council for far too long.
“The motion acknowledges that Gloucester faces extremely serious financial challenges and that difficult and timely decisions are required. Yet their answer is to try to remove the leader and start another battle over who runs the council.
“That is precisely the distraction Gloucester does not need.”