Cornwall Council accused of ignoring big issues for 'filler'
Cornwall Council has been slammed by one of its members for discussing 'filler' instead of important issues, such as the controversial bids to find someone to run Newquay airport and the offloading of some of its car parks to private companies to manage.
Independent councillor Tim Dwelly made the comments, aimed at Cornwall Council's Conservative cabinet, at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday. Usually, full council meetings discuss the pressing matters of the moment, with some of the biggest local authority decisions coming up for discussion.
However, it was noticeable at this week's meeting that it was taken up with the minutiae of policy and motions for the council to write letters to Government.
READ MORE:Women and Children's Hospital potential 'cancellation' sparks political row between Cornish MPs
READ MORE:Dad's horror after mistaking new trend for double murder on the moors
Among the matters voted on were allocation of seats, contract procedure rules, composition of the chief officer's employment committee, leave of absence requests and a motion on e-cigarettes and vaping. The one current topic which did lead to serious debate was the Government's decision to cut winter fuel payments for most pensioners.
One opposition councillor suggested to us during a break in the meeting that it was almost as if the Tory administration had decided to ensure any controversial matters were left on the backburner as it approached the council election in May.
Get the best stories and latest news delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you want here.
During a discussion about banning vapes for under 18s, Cllr Dwelly said tetchily: "I'm sure everyone agrees with this. My question is why are we spending our time as a council talking about something that has nothing in it which means anything can change in terms of this council? I get the feeling it's filler.
"Rather than talking about things we can do to deliver any change, we're filling these meetings a bit like football. You go to the corner flag ... let's talk for ages about something to encourage the Government to do something it will probably do anyway. Where is the airport debate? Where is the debate about car parks? Where is the debate about affordable housing numbers? I could go on."
He added: "As much as I'm very happy to support it, I worry. Where's the content from Cabinet on the things I just mentioned? Nothing. This meeting is full of filler. I'm sorry, but I don't see where the substance is. Frankly, we're wasting time on something we're not responsible for."
Fellow Independent councillor Julian German added that the council should take positive action rather than "hot air, words and another letter to Government". There were angry words of dissent from Conservative councillors directed at Cllr Dwelly as the council's Tory chairman Pauline Giles asked him not to repeat his comments again.