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At the last Full Council meeting where the budget setting was understandably the main event there were some smaller items on the agenda. One of the latter of these was the allocation of committee places to political parties according to the amount of representation that they have in chamber. There variations on how this is done in different authorities but at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council we have a formula which has been in place for years and is adhered to. The BNP councillor was allocated three committee places.
It is understandable that the controlling Conservative group allocate which party will have how many spaces per committee and they also make certain that they maintain a majority on each committee. They did win an election after all.
Since being elected on 1st May 2008 I have maintained a virtually 100% attendance record across my committees, in fact it is 100% on most of them, and have contributed at every meeting. Being one who reads the agenda in advance it still does not cease to amaze me when someone (usually a conservative) has to quickly skim through each item on the agenda as they arise.
Before Christmas I was approached by Peter Gilbert, current leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, in a corridor and asked if I wanted to remain on the same committee’s. I indicated that I was perfectly happy where I was.
I am fully trained on the various committee’s and have enjoyed taking part in them. I have volunteered for several working groups, much to the distaste of Labour who do not want me to be on any, and enjoyed being able to provide input at a level whereby work done will be presented as a report to cabinet and ultimately become debatable in chamber.
I will not pretend to be surprised to have been moved. In Social Scrutiny in particular I have been keen that the role of Scrutiny be developed whereby scrutiny is performed in advance on items of particular importance and not remain a retrospective exercise as it is at the moment. On standards committee it must irritate some that the British National Party councillor gets to sit in judgement of them at the initial stage on assessment panels. I know it does I have heard them raising their voice in the past to say so loudly enough that I can hear while I am passing. My presence on Appeals does not seem to have caused any fuss.
My new committee's are:
- Planning
- Licensing
- Audit
I have sought training and will be up to speed as soon as possible. Those readers who know me will be aware that not only do I always have something to say but the strategy of removal to take me off the boil is doomed to failure.
I intend not only to seek training from the officers of the council. Oh no. As it happens I have rather a good relationship with some BNP councillor’s from other authorities who sit on these very committee’s. I am arranging to nip across an pick up some tips. Local procedures may vary by authority but the laws are the same. Advice from an experienced councillor can be invaluable to a new boy. I recognise that this change will bring forward many new opportunities for us.
Bring it on!
