Probe demand after walkout
Wigan's chief executive is being asked to investigate the way in which this month's full council meeting was organised.
The Metro's 12 Independent and Independent Conservative councillors walked out in protest over the way their motions were being called.
Lord Smith, the leader of the council, said: "Many of those who left were still there in the bar, sitting behind empty glasses when the meeting finished.
"Surely their place isn't to go for an early drink but to stay inside the council chamber representing the people who voted for them."
Independent Gary Wilkes has now made an official complaint to Metro boss Joyce Redfearn,
He is angry at the way Lord Smith and the Labour group allegedly amended the council's constitution so that each group would be able to put forward one motion each, in order of the size of the political grouping.
Lord Smith said that he had reached agreement with leader of the opposition, Coun Paul Tushingham, and Tory leader Coun Mike Winstanley, to put the system in place pending more talks later this month.
He said this had been done to ensure that the opposition parties were more fairly represented and fewer of their motions would be talked out.
But Coun Wilkes claimed the new rules were "a slap in the face for democracy".
He said: "All motions to be debated on the night had been submitted in accordance with rules of procedure, in good time and all in good faith.
"But Coun Smith manipulated the constitution in such a way that it undermined the council and brought it and his own office into disrepute."
Independent Conservatives leader Coun Gareth Fairhurst said: "A week before, Lord Smith notified the other group leaders of a potential problem but when we as a group tried to resolve the issue he said it was this way or else.
"I warned him that if Labour wanted to railroad through their own agenda we would have nothing to do with it. And if he wanted an improvement in Wigan Council chamber this threat was the wrong way to go about it."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
