Bedford councillors clash in row over constitution changes
Bedford’s mayor has accused opposition councillors of turning a discussion about reviewing the borough council’s constitution into “an election campaign”.
The comment came after they criticised a document circulated to councillors outlining areas for review.
Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said it was “disappointing that the Liberal Democrats chose to issue a party political press release within hours” rather than engage in discussion.
“Instead of using every opportunity for an election campaign, perhaps the Liberal Democrats could grow up and discuss these issues with us like adults?” he said.
The row follows the circulation to councillors of a document identifying issues with the council’s constitution that “deserve review”.
Local authority constitutions set out how councils make decisions, how meetings operate and how residents and councillors can raise issues or scrutinise decisions.
They typically include rules covering petitions, councillors’ questions, executive decision-making and scrutiny procedures.
The document shared by the Lib Dems said the constitution has grown to 764 pages and lists a number of areas that could be examined, including the petition threshold of 30 signatures, the £50,000 threshold for key decisions, and rules governing councillors’ questions at meetings.
Other points listed include reviewing the criteria for calling in executive decisions, reducing speaking times for motions during debates and moving some guidance documents outside the constitution.
A Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group press release accused the mayor of attempting to reduce scrutiny and restrict public participation.
In the statement, Liberal Democrat group leader Henry Vann said he was “horrified” by the suggestions.
“The mayor wants to stifle residents’ voices with these suggestions,” he said.
“Some local petitions about issues that impact just a few houses are going to struggle to achieve more than 30 signatures, but they are a crucial tool for residents to ensure their voice is heard.
“The restrictions on questions is a blatant attempt to stifle scrutiny in a public forum and will stop councillors raising residents’ concerns.
“And to say that the limit on decisions that need to be publicly accounted for is too low at £50,000 is absolutely astonishing given the current financial crisis.”
The mayor said the document did not represent agreed policy.
“These are issues for discussion in order help streamline and improve the constitution to allow for better scrutiny and governance,” he said.
He said the list had been circulated after he was asked at a meeting of Full Council to identify areas he believed should be reviewed.
“Any changes would need to be debated properly and agreed through the council’s General Purposes Committee and Full Council – no changes can be made without cross-party input or agreement,” he said.
The mayor said the review had also been recommended by external experts.
“Bedford Borough Council’s constitution has grown to an unwieldy document of 764 pages over many years,” he said.
“That complexity can make it difficult for councillors, officers and the public to navigate and use the constitution with confidence – both local government expert Theresa Grant OBE and Cipfa [Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy] also agree the constitution needs a thorough review.”
Addressing concerns about petitions, the mayor said no new threshold had been proposed.
“The problem is not residents speaking up – that’s vital and we will always encourage that,” he said.
“What we want is a clearer, more reliable process so residents know exactly how a petition is submitted, handled and when it will be heard.”
He also rejected claims that reviewing the constitution would reduce democratic oversight.
“The purpose is the opposite,” he said. “A constitution that’s clearer and consistent is easier for the public, officers and councillors to use.”