By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There are concerns “democracy is dying” at Gloucester City Council under the leadership of Jeremy Hilton.
That is the view among the opposition as questions were interrupted and blocked again by the Liberal Democrat at this week’s cabinet meeting.
It comes after growing concern over free speech at the authority as several questions over the handling of the financial crisis by the authority’s bosses were also shut down during the recent budget meeting.
Opposition groups have had difficulty in tabling motions to be debated and concerns over “autocratic” leadership at the council were behind a previous motion of no confidence in Cllr Hilton last year which was never debated because time ran out.
Conservative group leader Stephanie Chambers (Quedgeley Fieldcourt) warned “democracy was dying” at the City Council this week after being interrupted and blocked several times by Cllr Hilton while asking questions.
He accused her at one point of “going into a rambling speech” but she said she was explaining the context for her supplementary question.
“I would like not to be interrupted by you,” she during the meeting on March 11.
“One of the cultural issues we are in now, and I have this on good authority…”
Cllr Hilton interrupted again asking her to “stick to the original question and ask a supplementary question based on the disposal of the assets or I will have to ask you to leave the table.”
Cllr Chambers said she would leave.
“I’ll forget that but what I will say is democracy is dying under this administration and under your cultural lead,” she said.
“Maybe you need to take some advice off your cabinet members because they seem to understand democracy.”
Cllr Hilton then prevented one of his cabinet members from trying to answer Cllr Chambers’ question.
And he replied to her with a jibe saying “well we haven’t lost a member of our group because of cultural reasons”.
Cllr Chambers asked if he wanted her to respond to that comment.
“No,” came the reply from Cllr Hilton.
Speaking after the meeting, Labour group leader Terry Pullen (Moreland) said he agreed with Cllr Chambers’ concerns that “democracy is dying” at the City Council.
He said: “When first elected as leader two years ago, Councillor Hilton said he wanted to work collectively and co-operatively with all other political groups.
“Sadly, we have seen very little evidence of that, in fact in many ways the opposite.
“Councillor Hilton thinks he can just bulldoze things through but then gets angry and defensive when opposition groups challenge him.
“He seems to forget the council is in no overall control.
“In fairness, some cabinet members try to be helpful and co-operative, the problem is the Leader of the Council.
“His approach is ‘it’s my way or no way’. Clearly that isn’t working. Things need to change at the top.”
And Community Independents group leader Alastair Chambers (Matson, Robinswood and White City) is also concerned about the running of the City Council. He believes it is a myth that “democracy exists” at the authority.
“Too often it appears that officers run the show while elected councillors are expected simply to act as a front for decisions that have already been made behind closed doors,” he said.
“Before the recent budget meeting, I was told that no budget amendments would be accepted and that any amendments submitted would simply be refused,” he said.
“If that is the case, it raises a fundamental question: what is the point of elected councillors debating a budget at all?
“The problems do not stop there. When I submit motions, the wording is frequently altered.
“When I submit questions, the wording is changed. When answers are finally provided, they often fail to address the question that was actually asked.
“When I attempt to ask the question again to obtain a proper answer, I am refused.
“This undermines the very purpose of scrutiny and democratic accountability.”
Cllr Hilton has been approached for comment.