Please allow me to respond to the letter from Andrew Hunt (April 30) as it alludes to me.
Prior to 1991, those of us who were Independent councillors did not belong to a group. However, since 1991, it has become essential so that those elected get a say in which committees they would like to serve on.
The Local Government (Committees and Political Group) Regulations 1990 were made under the Housing Act 1989 and came into force in 1991. Although amending regulations have been made in the meantime, the original regulations remain essentially the same.
These regulations make provision for securing the political balance on certain relevant authorities, committees and bodies and for determining the voting rights of members of certain committees.
They prevent a political group/party that holds a majority, from allocating seats on committees, etc., amongst their own councillors to the exclusion or detriment of others. With some exceptions (e.g. the cabinet/executive), seats on committees, panels, etc., must now be allocated proportionately based on the percentage of seats held by a group on the council, thereby ensuring minority groups get a fair representation and a say in the allocation of seats to individual councillors.
Under the regulations, although independent members would still be allocated seats on committees, panels, etc., if they were not formed into a political group, they would have no right to have an input into who is allocated which seats. Essentially they would be at the mercy of the controlling group.
For the above reasons, the independent members have formed into a political group. I hasten to add however, that “political” in this context is with a small “p” and solely for the sake of the said regulations. Independent members are still free to follow their own issues and priorities.
I can also say, that during the time Independent councillors have elected me to be the group leader, I have never, ever, said they had to vote as a group. We are all free to vote as we think best for the council and the areas we represent.
I hope that Mr Hunt will reconsider his earlier thoughts not to vote Independent because the candidate he refers to in his ward is excellent and just the sort of councillor we should be welcoming to our council.
Coun Angela Newton
Leader of the Independent Group
