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20
May 2024
North Yorkshire Council bans public from asking questions at annual council tax meeting
North Yorkshire Council voted to ban the public from asking questions at its annual council tax-setting meetings.
But there were dissenting voices from some councillors who accused the Conservative-run authority of an “erosion of democracy”.
All councillors met in Northallerton on Wednesday last week (May 15) to discuss amending the constitution, which included proposals to restrict questions from the public at its budget meeting in February.
Every year, the council agrees on what amount it will charge council tax to residents and what it will spend taxpayers’ money on in the year ahead.
But at this year’s meeting, about an hour was taken up by seven questions from residents about issues unrelated to the budget, including from 20’s Plenty campaigners who want to see lower speed limits through villages.
Referring to that meeting, Tory executive member for finance Cllr Gareth Dadd said he grew “sick and tired” of questions that had nothing to do with council tax.
He argued removing the public’s right to ask questions was about strengthening democracy as it would allow councillors more time to debate the important matter of what the council spends its money on.
Cllr Dadd added:
During the meeting, Cllr Chris Aldred (Liberal Democrat, High Harrogate & Kingsley) attempted to block the move as he said it was “perverse” to stop the public from speaking.
Cllr Aldred said:
He was backed by Cllr Subash Sharmer (Labour, Newby) who said during a cost-of-living crisis residents should be able to have their voices heard.
He added:
However, Cllr Andrew Williams (Conservative & Independent Group, Ripon Minster & Moorside) likened the council’s budget to the one delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in government.
He said:
In part due to the questions from the public, this year’s budget meeting clocked in at around eight hours.
Conservative executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance said it was so long “you lost the will to live” and the changes should result in a quicker meeting next year.
Councillors voted 45 to 31 in favour of amending the council constitution. There were four abstentions.
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