Letter: Council Leader’s Account Does Not Make Sense

Published on: 9 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 10 Nov, 2018

From: Anna-Marie Davis

In response to: Council Leader Agreed Proposal to Make Wisley Bid in August

The account of what happened on the Wisley bid decision does not make sense. If Cllr Spooner advised that he did not wish to take this decision under delegated authority on 19th October, then when the agenda was published on the 22nd this matter should have been included.

When I asked Cllr Spooner on Twitter when he was aware of the bid, he blocked me. Above, he states that he was both made aware of it in August and on 19th October.

Having worked in a democratic services department as a committee secretary in a local borough council, it strikes me as very odd that the Leader of the Council should state that he does not wish to use delegated powers, but then the item fails to appear on the agenda.

Despite being published on Monday before the meeting, typical practice would be to add the Item to the agenda, even if the report was sent “to follow”. The reason agenda are published a week prior to the meeting is to ensure due notice to ensure fair and open debate.

Who took the decision not to include this on the agenda at the time of publication? That is a question of utmost importance, and I doubt very much it was anyone in the Democratic Services division, nor that it was to do with time constraints.

It was simply a matter of adding a line to a word processed document and re-numbering the agenda. Given the sensitivity of the matter in question, I doubt it was oversight. I think someone is being economical with the truth.

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