Cllr Elgood

Brighton & Hove City Council is proposing the introduction of "improvements" to the way council meetings are held so as to make them "more efficient, streamlined and productive". The Greens have criticised the changes, saying they risk "undermining local democracy".
 


The proposed changes include:
 
·         Introducing a Prime Minister’s question time style Members’ question time.
·         Fixing the length of individual Member speaking time to three minutes.
·         Keeping meetings to no longer than four hours through an automatic closure motion.
·         Limiting the number of notices of motion.
 
Councillor Brian Oxley, chairman of the Governance Committee, said: 
“These proposals are part of our continuing drive to modernise the way we do business; making council meetings more efficient and focusing on the real points of interest which make a difference to our residents’ lives.”

Greens have criticised the proposals which aim to restrict the length of public Full Council meetings.
 
Green Cllr Ben Duncan said:
“While we welcome efforts to make the council more efficient, these proposals run the risk of undermining local democracy.
 
“Too many decisions are made behind closed doors as it is; Greens want to see more public meetings and debate – not less.
 
“Transparency and openness should be at the very heart of the way the council works - and this is especially vital when the city is run by a Tory administration that holds less than half of the local council seats.”

Lib Dem Cllr Paul Elgood said:
"I'm really not so sure council meetings need any further knockabout sessions such as imitating PMQs. I also don't think there will be much tolerance amongst the public for cutting the meeting off in mid flow, before the city's business is fully conducted just because someone wants to get home early. It'll also put the Mayor in an awkward position if the council votes to continue. And limiting the number of motions is just plain undemocratic - what can they be thinking off.

"If this goes through, it'll be a sad day for democracy."

For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonhovegreens.org