At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting of Wiltshire Council, democracy took a hit as Conservative Council Leader Richard Clewer refused to allow elected members to ask questions unless they had been submitted in advance. This unprecedented move prevented Melksham councillor Jon Hubbard from raising urgent concerns about the Council’s decision to stop working with local news publisher Wiltshire Publications.
Wiltshire Publications, a long-standing local newspaper group based in Cllr Hubbard’s division, was informed that it would no longer receive press support from the Council due to alleged “biased reporting.” Cllr Hubbard sought clarity on what policies or procedures, if any, guided this decision and what recognised standards were used to assess the so-called bias.
Despite attempts by both Cllr Hubbard (Independent) and Cllr Ian Thorn, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, to raise these critical issues, their questions were met with dismissal and obstruction. The Conservative leader, Cllr Clewer, reportedly shouted over their interventions and refused to engage.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Hubbard expressed his shock and dismay at the Leader’s conduct.
“I am deeply shocked and distressed by the behaviour of the Council Leader this morning. We are meant to be serious people doing a serious job, yet he has ridden roughshod over democracy, refusing to answer for his actions. This type of behaviour raises serious questions about his fitness for office.”
He added: “I have served on Wiltshire Council for almost 16 years and have never witnessed behaviour like this. Previous leaders would never have hidden behind made-up rules to evade accountability. What else might Cllr Clewer be trying to conceal?”
Transparency and Accountability Are Vital
Wiltshire Council comprises 98 elected members who represent communities across the county. These councillors deserve respect as the voices of the people who elected them. The Leader’s refusal to allow open questioning undermines the principles of transparency and accountability that are fundamental to local government.
No explanation has been provided about the rules that governed the decision to cut ties with Wiltshire Publications. Nor has the Council disclosed what methods were used to measure alleged bias. This lack of transparency has left councillors and the public in the dark about the rationale behind the decision, eroding trust in the Council’s processes.
Concerns About Complaints Process
Cllr Hubbard also intended to question why Wiltshire Publications’ attempt to lodge a formal complaint was rejected. The Council claimed that corporate bodies could not make complaints under its current framework, effectively leaving Wiltshire Publications with no avenue to challenge the decision or seek redress. This raises serious concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the Council’s complaints process.
A Call for Change
Cllr Hubbard and his colleagues are calling on Wiltshire Council to address these issues urgently, starting with:
• A full explanation of the process and rules used to make decisions about media partnerships.
• An independent review of the allegations of bias and the methods used to evaluate them.
• Reform of the complaints process to ensure that businesses and corporate entities can have their concerns heard and addressed fairly.
