On Tuesday the 19th of July I observed the start of a Cambridgeshire County Council full council meeting. The council noted that Kilian Bourke, the Liberal Democrat, County Councillor for Romsey had become the Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition.
The chairman invited party leaders to say some words of thanks to the outgoing Liberal Democrat leader. Conservative Cllr Nick Clarke briefly thanked Cllr Whelan for her public service, noting that opposition was important. He then embarked on an astonishing, double barrelled, pre-emptive attack on the character of the newly appointed Cllr Bourke. I think attacks on individual’s characters are poor. Debate in the County Council chamber should be about the business of the council and not petty personal bickering between councillors. Cllr Clarke ridiculed Cllr Bourke for his youth (something I thought was awful); and said that he had read up on Cllr Bourke’s antics during his student days on “social media sites”.
(Cllr Bourke’s antics on facebook have previously made the press.)
Cllr Clarke then drew attention to Cllr Bourke’s job as Star Radio’s Coleman the Patrolman; which Cllr Clarke said involved dressing up in an orange suit and wig. Cllr Bourke denied ever wearing the wig. (Cllr Clarke was perhaps thinking of the “Ginger Traffic Ninja” – a more recent traffic reporter on Star Radio )
While Cllr Bourke’s entry in the register of members’ interests still states he is a “Reporter for Star Radio (Self Employed)”. Star Radio has told me he no longer holds that position. Responding to my live tweeting of Cllr Clarke’s attack Star Cambridge said:
@RTaylorUK @CllrNickClarke He was the best travel reporter we ever had! Ask him about the time he got stung by a bee and carried on!
The attack turned from childish jibes to something more serious when Cllr Clarke said that Cllr Bourke cannot be trusted with confidential material and has record of leaking confidential documents.
I am aware that Cllr Bourke has done things such as leak the County Council’s draft gritting plans to the leader of Cambridge City Council to enable her to comment. (This was reported to area committee meetings in Cambridge) I’m not aware though of any leaks Cllr Bourke has made of justifiably confidential information, or leaks which are not clearly in the public interest. Cllr Clake didn’t cite any substantive examples, instead focusing on the 5% pay cut being taken by the Cambridgeshire County Council Chief Executive.
Cllr Clarke said that he had wanted to announce the pay cut this in his own time; and suggested/implied that Cllr Bourke had leaked the story to the press.
Cllr Clarke said that on being made aware the story was based on leaked confidential information a newspaper website (which he didn’t identify) had removed the story, Cllr Clarke said he was grateful to the newspaper for its co-operation.
I think this shows a worryingly close and cosy link between the leader and at least one branch of our local media.
I first learnt of the pay cut via John Elworthy’s twitter stream, Mr Elworthy is the editor of the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard. Mr Elworthy has been drawing attention to very handsomely paid public servants locally, for example Fire Chief Mr Stagg who trousers £190,000 a year.
Cllr Clarke finished his tirade against the character of Cllr Bourke by saying he would tell him “very little” and only let him know about things “at the last minute”. Cllr Clarke said this decision to freeze the opposition leader out of decision making was one taken “with regret”.
There is a video of the exchange which was taken by Cambridgeshire County Council themselves. I initially reported in my live tweets that Cllr Clarke had asked the newspaper to take its article down; the council has tweeted to say that it has viewed the video and that wasn’t said. The newspaper took the article down after being made aware it was based on leaked information and Cllr Clarke was very happy about that.
Cllr Clarke announced the Chief Executive’s pay cut on the day of the meeting via twitter pointing to a post on his blog. Cllr Clarke’s blog post doesn’t mention how much Chief Executive Mark Lloyd gets paid, he got a salary of £195,966 prior to the pay cut.
Further Points from the Meeting
- Councillors prayed for wisdom, knowledge and integrity at the start of the meeting
- Loads of councilors declared an interest as members of Cambridgeshire Old People’s Enterprise, it was revealed in debate around half were over 50 and 24 over 65.
- Green Cllr Sedgwick-Jell said that Cllr Clarke would privatise his own granny if he could – during a debate on care home provision.
- There were petitions on bus services, and on BBC local broadcasting, the latter from the local branch of the National Union of Journalists. Petitioners got no instant oral response and were promised letters (they’d have been better off asking public questions, then presenting the petition!)
- Councillors had a 3-4 course lunch, Sirloin Steak, Strawberries, Gateaux, and more were on the menu. East Chesterton representative Ian Manning commented on twitter playing down the lunch saying “the sirloin steak yesterday was less grand than it sounded!” and ” just pointing out was slivers not whole steaks. perfectly gd just not extravagant”.
17 responses to “LibDem Leader Bourke Not Trusted With Confidential Information”
Cllr Clarke has blogged today writing:
We’ve lost the trust in the council due to the party political games they play that appears to be a substitute for good government.
And the Conservatives wonder why they don’t have any Councillors in Cambridge…
Cllr Clarke continues to give the impression that he is scared of effective scrutiny and keen to take steps to avoid or prevent it. This is consistent with his introduction of changes to the constitution of the Council at 24 hours notice. Not a very impressive start as Council leader.
I think it is wrong of you to make comment on the lunch without reinforcing the point that Councillors’ pay for it. It could be argued that not reinforcing that point creates the incorrect suggestion that it is provided at the taxpayers expense.
Cambridgeshire County Council has tweeted to say
Cllr Hoy has said the money gets taken off the councillor allowances if councillors want the lunch or not. I think that the council funding the lunch in this way is different from councillors handing over money for it.
So are you saying that if I paid for it by (eg) credit card that would be ok?
No Cllr Manning, that would be like you paying in cash – you’d be making the choice to spend your own money on the lunch.
I’m staggered how childish Cllr Clarke is being. Just because he may not get on with Cllr Bourke is no reason to deny him information or exclude him (and therefore the Lib Dems)from council business. It seems to me that Cllr Clarke wants to control all the political press releases that come from the cabinet.
@Phil Rodgers
I’m sorry Phil, but you’re talking absolute nonsense. You say Cllr Clarke is “scared of effective scrutiny” and that is about as far from the truth as it could be.
In fact, since he became leader he has constantly and consistently called for scrutiny. He is supporting the cross-party Scrutiny Management Group as it sets about toughening up scrutiny powers.
He has told Scrutiny chairs (of which I am one) that he expects tough and challenging scrutiny and he has backed that up with his actions elsewhere.
You then make reference to the somewhat-controversial changes made at the previous council meeting. In fact, the End Of Democracy As We Know It pronouncements made elsewhere have proved to be completely incorrect. All members I spoke to felt that this week’s meeting demonstrated a significant improvement. All sides views were aired, strong debate was had, vigorous arguments were offered. There was none of the scare-mongered democratic deficit and I suspect the more honest opposition would admit that if you asked them.
I imagine that your comment that the new leader has “not made a good start” is down to your politics – and I respect that.
However, I have very much enjoyed his strong, confident and purposeful leadership thus far. Will he get everything right? No. That’s what scrutiny is there for – and opposition. But there’s a real buzz about the council and I have had member’s of other parties grudgingly acknowledge it.
And yes, I know. I put that apostrophe where it didn’t belong. : ) Sorry.
But I do choose to pay for it!
I dont’ understand your reasoning Richard:
I get money from my day job and from my council allowance and they both go into my bank account
Rather than have it go to said account, draw it out a cash machine and take it to shire hall I choose the option of just deducting the amount direct from my council allowance to pay for the food
Net effect financially is the same, but my method is more efficient/slightly ‘greener’.
£7.44 for lunch and wine? Surely there must be a hidden subsidy somewhere? If not, perhaps they could open it to the public as it would be the cheapest lunch in Cambridge after McDonalds.
Re 11. Steve, thanks for the comments. But I can’t see how announcing constitutional changes with only 24 hours notice can possibly be consistent with wanting to ensure effective scrutiny. Similarly, proposing to tell the opposition leader “very little” and only let him know about things “at the last minute” doesn’t sound as if it will promote effective scrutiny either. The impression Cllr Clarke gives (at least to me) is that he regards scrutiny, by the opposition at least, as an inconvenient distraction to his gung-ho leadership style, and is doing whatever he can to avoid it.
Perhaps my viewpoint is indeed coloured by my politics, though I have to say that I am finding no longer being a member of a political party (I resigned from the Lib Dems last year) quite refreshing.
A County Council officer has written to me, subject line: #steakgate:
The County Council has now published the video taken of the verbal attack made by Cllr Clarke on Cllr Bourke during his “tribute” to Cllr Whelan;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzcwrjT7128
(warning: audio is poor quality)
Sadly this exchange wasn’t even the low point of the meeting.